Dutch Anti-Immigration Politician Geert Wilders in court (left) Image from EPA/BBC
Rabat, (IINA) - The Dutch Anti-Immigration Politician Geert Wilders and leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) who was acquitted five years ago of making anti-Islam remarks, has gone on trial on Friday again for allegedly inciting hatred against the Dutch Moroccan minority, according to media reports.
Wilders appeared in court over allegations that he asked a crowd of supporters at a rally in 2014 if they wanted more or fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands, to which they responded with: “Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!”.
On March 12, 2014, the PVV leader paid a visit to Loosduinen and said that The Hague should be “a city with fewer burdens and if possible fewer Moroccans.”
Wilders, at the start of the hearing and listened calmly as prosecutors detailed the charges. He says the trial is politically motivated and that his comments are protected by his right to free speech.
“Freedom of expression is not absolute, it is paired with obligations and responsibilities,” said the 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 basis of freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” he added.
The case comes as Wilders and other populist politicians including Donald Trump in the US and Marine le Pen in France have won support by calling for a ban on Muslim immigration.
SM/IINA
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