Thursday 23 June 2011
MP Geert Wilders has been cleared of charges of inciting hatred and discrimination by a court in Amsterdam.
The court ruled that some of Wilders' statements were insulting, shocking and on the edge of legal acceptibility, but that they were made in the broad context of a political and social debate on the multi-cultural society.
The chief judge took some 20 minutes to dismiss the charges one by one, speaking in clear, non-legal language. There was applause from the public gallery when he had finished his statement.
The public prosecution department earlier joined Wilders’ legal team in calling for a not-guilty verdict, saying certain statements by the PVV party leader were insulting, but not criminal.
The department was forced to take the case by the high court after anti-racism campaigners protested at its refusal to prosecute Wilders.
The case began on October 4 last year, but collapsed after three weeks when a special legal panel ruled the judges may have shown partiality following a string of legal blunders. New judges were then sworn in and the case was heard again this year.
| Geert Wilders acquitted of all charges |
| donderdag, 23 juni 2011 | |||||||
| This morning the Court of Amsterdam has acquitted Geert Wilders of all charges. “I am delighted with this ruling,” says Geert Wilders. “It is a victory, not only for me but for all the Dutch people. Today is a victory for freedom of speech. The Dutch are still allowed to speak critically about islam, and resistance against islamisation is not a crime. I have spoken, I speak and I shall continue to speak.” |
by lnfideI on Jun 23, 2011 "I'm incredibly happy with this acquittal on all counts"
Geert Wilders says his acquittal on hate speech charges is a victory for Freedom of Expression in Netherlands.
Geert Wilders says his acquittal on hate speech charges is a victory for Freedom of Expression in Netherlands.
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