Anti- Islam MP’s trial a ‘ political process’

The hate speech trial of Dutch antiIslam MP Geert Wilders is a “political process” which could have a lasting impact on the Netherlands, a court heard yesterday.

“If you ask me whether this case is a political process that may have farreaching consequences, not only in the Netherlands but the whole world, I would say so,” Paul Cliteur, a Leidenbased law professor and philosopher told judges.

Cliteur was testifying for the defence as hearings resumed in the case against the far- right politician, accused of insulting a racial group and inciting racial hatred after comments he made about Moroccans living in the Netherlands.

Wilders, 53, has dubbed the case a “political trial”.

He has been snubbing the hearings, unfolding at a high- security court near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, and contends he had simply been exercising his right to free speech.

The Netherlands holds general elections in March and Wilders’ farright Freedom Party ( PVV) is riding high in the polls, a close second to the ruling Liberal VVD party.

Due to run until November 25, with a verdict expected on December 9, the trial focuses on a comment made at a 2014 local election rally, when Wilders asked supporters whether they wanted “fewer or more Moroccans” in the country.

When the crowd shouted back “Fewer! Fewer!” a smiling Wilders answered: “We’re going to organise that.”

“Wilders’s viewpoints . . . are particularly radical in his criticism against Islam,” Cliteur told the threejudge bench.

But his remarks at the rally “had nothing to do with racism”, Cliteur maintained. The comments were “rather aimed at halting immigration based on nationality”.

“He may just as well have asked ‘ Do you want fewer Americans or fewer Malaysians’ — the effect is the same.”

The court also heard from a lawyer representing four aggrieved groups and eight individuals, demanding compensation from Wilders.

“One man said he became depressed, could not sleep and did not feel a valued member of Dutch society any more,” Goran Sluiter told the judges.

If found guilty, Wilders could face a two- year jail term or a fine of more than 20,000 ($ 27,375), but experts said a punishment on this scale was unlikely.