Dutch far-right leader in hate speech trial

AMSTERDAM: Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician leading calls for an EU ban on Muslim immigration, was back in court yesterday to answer charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against the Netherlands’ Moroccan minority.

Prosecutors said the case, which follows the acquittal in December of Wilders’ political ally Marine le Pen in France on similar charges, pits the right to freedom of speech against the right to freedom from discrimination.

“Freedom of expression is not absolute, it is paired with obligations and responsibilities,” said lead prosecutor Wouter Bos, “the responsibility not to set groups of people against each other.”

“Racism and hatred of foreigners constitute a direct violation of the foundations of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.”

Wilders denies wrongdoing, saying the trial is politically motivated and his comments are protected by his right to free speech. He attracted the attention of prosecutors by repeatedly calling for “fewer Moroccans” during election campaigning in 2014.

Wilders publicly called Moroccans, about 2 percent of the population, “scum”.

The trial comes amid a heated debate on a Syrian refugee influx – opposed by much of the Dutch population.

Wilders and his decade-old Freedom Party have risen to become the most popular party in national opinion polls by a wide margin, with elections expected in March next year.

He has lived under 24-hour protection since the 2004 murder of writer Theo van Gogh, who – like Wilders – made films criticising Islam.

“Nobody will silence me. Not about Moroccans either,” Wilders tweeted last week. “No terrorist threats... no judge. Nobody.”

A Wilders support group and Dutch members of German anti-Islam movement Pegida demonstrated outside the courtroom. Some wore children’s hats with pigs’ ears, affirming their right to taunt Muslims, forbidden to eat pork.

A 2011 discrimination case against him centred on his calls for “Muslim criminals” to be stripped of Dutch nationality and deported, and his comparison of the Koran to Hitler’s manifesto Mein Kampf. He faces a year’s jail and 7 400 fine. – Reuters

Geert Wilders.