lawmaker Geert Wilders
A Dutch court has ruled that lawmaker Geert Wilders should be prosecuted for inciting racial hatred with his anti-Islamic statements.
"The Amsterdam appeals court has ordered the prosecution of member of parliament Geert Wilders for inciting hatred and discrimination, based on comments by him in various media on Muslims and their beliefs," the court declared in a Wednesday statement.
It added, "The court also considers appropriate criminal prosecution for insulting Muslim worshippers because of comparisons between Islam and Nazism made by Wilders."
Dutch right-wing Freedom Party leader, Geert Wilders, made headlines worldwide in March 2008 after he made the controversial and anti-Islam film, 'fitna'. The movie prompted angry protests across the world.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described Wildres's movie as 'offensively anti-Islamic' at the time. The European Parliament also banned the screening of the blasphemous film, saying it provokes hatred.
Meanwhile, Gerard Spong - a prominent lawyer who pushed for Wilders's prosecution - welcomed the court's decision.
"This is a happy day for all followers of Islam who do not want to be tossed on the garbage dump of Nazism," he told reporters.
It is notable that Geert Wilders in 2007 called for a ban on the Qur'an and expressed concern over the rapid pace of the growth of Islam in the West in a letter published in the De Volkskrant newspaper.
Source: De Volkskrant
"The Amsterdam appeals court has ordered the prosecution of member of parliament Geert Wilders for inciting hatred and discrimination, based on comments by him in various media on Muslims and their beliefs," the court declared in a Wednesday statement.
It added, "The court also considers appropriate criminal prosecution for insulting Muslim worshippers because of comparisons between Islam and Nazism made by Wilders."
Dutch right-wing Freedom Party leader, Geert Wilders, made headlines worldwide in March 2008 after he made the controversial and anti-Islam film, 'fitna'. The movie prompted angry protests across the world.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described Wildres's movie as 'offensively anti-Islamic' at the time. The European Parliament also banned the screening of the blasphemous film, saying it provokes hatred.
Meanwhile, Gerard Spong - a prominent lawyer who pushed for Wilders's prosecution - welcomed the court's decision.
"This is a happy day for all followers of Islam who do not want to be tossed on the garbage dump of Nazism," he told reporters.
It is notable that Geert Wilders in 2007 called for a ban on the Qur'an and expressed concern over the rapid pace of the growth of Islam in the West in a letter published in the De Volkskrant newspaper.
Source: De Volkskrant
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