14 April 2011
The hate speech trial of controversial anti-Muslim Dutch MP Geert Wilders resumed at a court in Amsterdam on Wednesday, almost a month after a judge dismissed a request to dismiss the case against the lawmaker.
Wilders faces five charges for inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims through his speeches and a 17-minute short film Fitna he had made earlier. He is accused of describing the Holy Qur'an as a "fascist book" and comparing Islam to Nazism.
Last month, Judge Marcel van Oosten of the Amsterdam District Court had rejected a request by defense lawyers to dismiss Wilders' case on grounds that prosecutors had gone beyond the scope of their case against the Dutch lawmaker.
Wilders' trial had originally opened on 4 October 2010 at the Amsterdam District Court after a lengthy legal process that began way back in January 2010.
However, an appeals panel at the Amsterdam District Court had ordered judges in the trial of Wilders to step down in October last year and ruled that the trial must be restarted with a new panel of judges.
The October ruling came after Wilders' lawyers demanded that the present judges panel at Amsterdam District Court presiding over his trial be dismissed as they created "an impression of partiality" by their decision to reject a defense request to recall a witness.
Nearly 100 public remarks by Wilders have been entered into evidence. Typical among them was an interview published in De Volkskrant newspaper in which he said: "The core of the problem is the fascist Islam, the sick ideology of Allah and Mohammed as written down in the Islamic Mein Kampf."
Wilder, who faces up to a year in prison or a fine of up to 7,600 euros ($10,000) if convicted, has denied the charges, insisting that he was within the bounds of the law while making the statements. He says the right to freedom of expression justifies his actions.
The latest development comes after Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) secured its largest ever gains in the June national elections. Though the PVV has not joined a new all-conservative minority government, its support in exchange for several policy concessions is presently keeping the government in power.
Sources:
"Hate Speech Trial Of Dutch MP Geert Wilders Resumes " RTT News April 13, 2011
"Geert Wilders 'hate' trial resumes in Amsterdam" BBC News April 13, 2011
"Dutch anti-Islam hate speech trial resumes" Fox News March 13, 2011
The hate speech trial of controversial anti-Muslim Dutch MP Geert Wilders resumed at a court in Amsterdam on Wednesday, almost a month after a judge dismissed a request to dismiss the case against the lawmaker.
Wilders faces five charges for inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims through his speeches and a 17-minute short film Fitna he had made earlier. He is accused of describing the Holy Qur'an as a "fascist book" and comparing Islam to Nazism.
Last month, Judge Marcel van Oosten of the Amsterdam District Court had rejected a request by defense lawyers to dismiss Wilders' case on grounds that prosecutors had gone beyond the scope of their case against the Dutch lawmaker.
Wilders' trial had originally opened on 4 October 2010 at the Amsterdam District Court after a lengthy legal process that began way back in January 2010.
However, an appeals panel at the Amsterdam District Court had ordered judges in the trial of Wilders to step down in October last year and ruled that the trial must be restarted with a new panel of judges.
The October ruling came after Wilders' lawyers demanded that the present judges panel at Amsterdam District Court presiding over his trial be dismissed as they created "an impression of partiality" by their decision to reject a defense request to recall a witness.
Nearly 100 public remarks by Wilders have been entered into evidence. Typical among them was an interview published in De Volkskrant newspaper in which he said: "The core of the problem is the fascist Islam, the sick ideology of Allah and Mohammed as written down in the Islamic Mein Kampf."
Wilder, who faces up to a year in prison or a fine of up to 7,600 euros ($10,000) if convicted, has denied the charges, insisting that he was within the bounds of the law while making the statements. He says the right to freedom of expression justifies his actions.
The latest development comes after Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) secured its largest ever gains in the June national elections. Though the PVV has not joined a new all-conservative minority government, its support in exchange for several policy concessions is presently keeping the government in power.
Sources:
"Hate Speech Trial Of Dutch MP Geert Wilders Resumes " RTT News April 13, 2011
"Geert Wilders 'hate' trial resumes in Amsterdam" BBC News April 13, 2011
"Dutch anti-Islam hate speech trial resumes" Fox News March 13, 2011
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