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'Inciting hatred.' Wilders on trial
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Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders' trial opens

Geert Wilders, member of Dutch parliament soon slated to join government, charged with inciting hatred, discrimination against Muslim and non-Western immigrants. He is known for likening Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf

Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders, set to become a shadow partner in the next Dutch government, went on trial Monday accused of inciting racial hatred against Muslims.

 

The controversial politician with his signature shock of dyed-blonde hair risks up to a year in jail or a 7,600-euro fine for calling Islam "fascist" and likening the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

 

The hearing in Amsterdam was opened by presiding judge Jan Moors shortly after 9:00 am (0700 GMT) with Wilders seated in the front row of the courtroom next to his advocate Bram Moszkovicz.

 

Wilders, 47, is charged with five counts of giving religious offense to Muslims and inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and people of non-Western immigrant origin, particularly Moroccans.

 

In comments made between October 2006 and March 2008 in Dutch newspapers and on Internet forums, prosecutors say that Wilders described Islam as "the sick ideology of Allah and Mohammed" and its holy book as "the Mein Kampf of a religion that seeks to eliminate others".


Wilders in court with with his lawyer Moszkovicz (Photo: AFP)

  

Among the exhibits is Wilders' 17-minute film, "Fitna", alleged to depict Islam as a force bent on destroying the West and whose screening in the Netherlands in 2008 prompted protests in much of the Muslim world.

 

Wilders arrived at the Amsterdam district court minutes before the start of the hearing.

 

About a dozen protesters had gathered outside the court building with a large placard that blames Wilders for "division and polarization", as a strong contingent of police, some in riot gear, kept watch.

 

"The different colors of our society is what makes us rich, but that is being threatened by Mr Wilders," Mustafa Ayranci, one of the group's organizers and head of the Turkish labor association, told AFP.

 

Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) came third in June 9 elections with 24 seats out of 150 in the Dutch lower house of parliament.

 

Under a coalition deal being finalized, his PVV will provide a minority cabinet of the Christian Democrats and liberals with the majority they need to pass decisions through parliament in return for a voice in policy formation.

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.04.10, 11:13
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