Dutch far-right protest against Islam

Hundreds of right-wing demonstrators crowded a main square at Rotterdam's central station Saturday to protest what they describe as the "discrimination against ordinary Dutch citizens" in favour of immigrants and Muslims, reports AFP from Rotterdam, Netherlands. The protest by around 700 right-wing supporters comes as Dutch political parties gear up for local government elections in March, with issues such as immigration and integration again expected to feature prominently among its 13 million illegible voters. "The Netherlands is our country, it's not (Prime Minister) Mark Rutte's country," populist Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who led the demonstration, told the protesters.

"We live here, not in Morocco, we don't live in Turkey or in Saudi Arabia, but in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands," said Wilders. "Here it's our rules that count. I want to tell you that the Netherlands is not an Islamic country, do you agree?" Wilders said to loud applause, speaking through a megaphone and sporting his trademark peroxide hairdo.  He left the demonstration a short while later after safety concerns when his vehicle became boxed in by a throng of supporters and journalists. Wilders, 54, is often called the "best protected" man in the country and lives under 24-hour security. His anti-Islam views have seen him receive death threats including from terror groups such as the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.

He is currently appealing a 2016 conviction for discrimination against Moroccans in a speech at a 2014 election rally.

Dutch far-right protest against Islam

Hundreds of right-wing demonstrators crowded a main square at Rotterdams central station Saturday to protest what they describe as the discrimination against ordinary Dutch citizens in favour of immigrants and Muslims, reports AFP from Rotterdam, Netherlands. The protest by around 700 right-wing supporters comes as Dutch political parties gear up for local government elections in March, with issues such as immigration and integration again expected to feature prominently among its 13 million illegible voters. The Netherlands is our country, its not (Prime Minister) Mark Ruttes country, populist Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who led the demonstration, told the protesters. We live here, not in Morocco, we dont live in Turkey or in Saudi Arabia, but in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, said Wilders. Here its our rules that count. I want to tell you that the Netherlands is not an Islamic country, do you agree? Wilders said to loud applause, speaking through a megaphone and sporting his trademark peroxide hairdo. He left the demonstration a short while later after safety concerns when his vehicle became boxed in by a throng of supporters and journalists. Wilders, 54, is often called the best protected man in the country and lives under 24-hour security. His anti-Islam views have seen him receive death threats including from terror groups such as the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda. He is currently appealing a 2016 conviction for discrimination against Moroccans in a speech at a 2014 election rally.