By Pamela Geller
Lights Dim on West: Prosecution Widens Charges Against Free Speech in Geert Wilders Trial
The escalation in the persecution of Wilders is directly related to his popularity. He is now the number one party in the Netherlands (origin of recent Muslim plane attackers). So not only is Wilders being prosecuted but so are a majority of beleaguered Dutch folks.
Islamic jihad can keep up its relentless destruction of the West but do not dare talk about it.
The trial begins January 20th.
Geert Wilders hate speech charges widened (hat tip Liz S)
The charges against far-right MP Geert Wilders have been extended to include inciting hatred towards Moroccans and non-Western ethnic minorities, de Volksrant newspaper reports.
Up to now the Freedom Party leader has been charged with inciting hatred against Muslims through his remarks in the media and his anti-Islam film Fitna. MrWilders has compared the Qur’an to Hitler’s Mein Kampf, and called for it to be banned.
However, the public prosecutor’s office has now decided to widen the charges, based in part on Mr Wilders response in a 2006 interview when asked what he would do if he came to power in the Netherlands: "The same day the borders would be closed to all non-Western immigrants." Mr Wilders has also expressed this view in parliament. The decision to widen the charges is striking because initially the public prosecutor’s office decided that Mr Wilders had no case to answer. It only went ahead with the prosecution when an Amsterdam court ruled last year that Mr Wilders should indeed face charges of insulting Muslims as a group and inciting hatred and discrimination towards them.
Insight
The lawyers who brought the case against Mr Wilders have welcomed the public prosecutor’s move. Haroon Raza of anti-racism organisation NBK told de Volkrant he was “extremely satisfied”. NBK argues that Mr Wilders is not only anti-Islam but also racist. Amsterdam lawyer Gerard Spong described the public prosecutor’s decision as a sign of “deepening insight”. It was he who brought the appeal against the initial conclusion that MrWilders should not be prosecuted. The public prosecutor’s office has not commented on the reasons behind its decision to widen the charges . A spokesperson told de Volkskrant that the motivation would be explained during the initial hearing in the case, set for 20 January.
Objections
Mr Wilders’ lawyer Bram Moszkowicz will set out his objections to the charges in a closed hearing on Wednesday. He argues that there are no grounds to prosecute his client for insulting Muslims as a group. MrWilders argues that his criticism has always been directed against Islam as a religion, and not against Muslims. He is attending the hearing in person although his Mr Moszkowicz said he did not enter the court by the main entrance due to the death threats which have been made against him.
Past remarks by Geert Wilders: “Introduce an immediate halt on immigration for people from Muslim countries. Forbid the burqa and the fascist Qur’an.”
“Let us reconquer our streets. Let us ensure that finally the Netherlands really looks like the Netherlands. […] Time for the big clean-up of our streets.”
“There is no moderate Islam. Islam is as I see it is a fascist ideology.”
