Judges to deliver verdicts in Wilders hate speech trial

[inanna]

Source: Associated Press

December 9 at 2:56 AM

AMSTERDAM — Judges are set to deliver their verdicts in the politically charged hate speech trial of Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders.

Wilders, whose Party for Freedom is riding high in Dutch opinion polls three months from parliamentary elections, is charged with inciting hatred against Moroccans before and after municipal elections in 2014.

He denies the charges and insists he was performing his duty as a political leader by pointing out a problem in society. Prosecutors asked judges to fine him 5,000 euros ($5,300).

Wilders, who has said he will not attend Friday’s hearing, says in an interview with national daily De Telegraaf that the outcome of the court case is irrelevant.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/judges-to-deliver-verdicts-in-wilders-hate-speech-trial/2016/12/09/f39a742c-bde4-11e6-ae79-bec72d34f8c9_story.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. It's unexpected Wilders would pass up an opportunity to be the subject of attention so easily!

[center]

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Geert Wilders found guilty of inciting discrimination

The Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders has been found guilty of inciting discrimination against Dutch Moroccans in a verdict that is expected to intensify the debate about migration in the Netherlands.

A panel of three judges ruled that the Freedom party (PVV) leader’s comments in a post-election speech in 2014 were “demeaning and thereby insulting towards the Moroccan population”. Hendrik Steenhuis, chairman of the judges, said the remarks were clearly aimed at an ethnic population group and delivered in a televised speech for maximum effect.

However, the court cleared Wilders of the charge of inciting hatred and imposed no fine or sentence, ruling that a criminal conviction was sufficient punishment for a politician in Wilders’ position.

Neither Wilders nor his lawyer, Geert-Jan Knoops, were in court to hear Friday’s verdict. Immediately afterwards Wilders issued a press release saying he would appeal and describing the court’s decision as “a great loss for democracy and freedom of expression”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/09/geert-wilders-found-guilty-in-hate-speech-trial-but-no-sentence-imposed

So much for "the outcome of the court case is irrelevant". If that were true, he shouldn't appeal, or worry about it.