Dutch anti-Islam MP absent as hate speech trial opens

AFP, SCHIPHOL, Netherlands: The hate speech trial of Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders opened in his absence Monday, in a case that will test the boundaries of free expression ahead of parliamentary polls next year.
Wilders’s lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops read out a statement from his client at the start of the hearing, explaining why he had declined to turn up.
“It is a political process and I have decided not to be present. It’s my right as a politician to speak out if there is a problem in the Netherlands,” the statement said.
“This is a question that should be addressed in parliament, not in a court of law.” Three judges are hearing the case against Wilders, 53, on charges of insulting a racial group and inciting racial hatred after comments he made about Moroccans living in the Netherlands. Public prosecutor Sabina van der Kallen told the judges she would not ask them to force Wilders to appear in court.
Due to run until November 25, the highly-anticipated trial focuses in part on a comment made at a March 2014 local government election rally, when Wilders asked supporters whether they wanted “fewer or more Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands”. When the crowd shouted back “Fewer! Fewer!” a smiling Wilders answered: “We’re going to organise that.”
On Monday, the video of Wilders smiling at the rally was played in court with presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis saying: “We need to determine whether Mr Wilders is guilty of insulting Moroccans and inciting hate speech against them.” Knoops told journalists before the hearing that the MP’s decision was “in line with his previous statements and we as the defence respect his decision not to appear before the court.”

 

Dutch anti-Islam MP absent as hate speech trial opens

AFP, SCHIPHOL, Netherlands: The hate speech trial of Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders opened in his absence Monday, in a case that will test the boundaries of free expression ahead of parliamentary polls next year. Wilderss lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops read out a statement from his client at the start of the hearing, explaining why he had declined to turn up. It is a political process and I have decided not to be present. Its my right as a politician to speak out if there is a problem in the Netherlands, the statement said. This is a question that should be addressed in parliament, not in a court of law. Three judges are hearing the case against Wilders, 53, on charges of insulting a racial group and inciting racial hatred after comments he made about Moroccans living in the Netherlands. Public prosecutor Sabina van der Kallen told the judges she would not ask them to force Wilders to appear in court. Due to run until November 25, the highly-anticipated trial focuses in part on a comment made at a March 2014 local government election rally, when Wilders asked supporters whether they wanted fewer or more Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands. When the crowd shouted back Fewer! Fewer! a smiling Wilders answered: Were going to organise that. On Monday, the video of Wilders smiling at the rally was played in court with presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis saying: We need to determine whether Mr Wilders is guilty of insulting Moroccans and inciting hate speech against them. Knoops told journalists before the hearing that the MPs decision was in line with his previous statements and we as the defence respect his decision not to appear before the court.