Anti-Islam film Fitna does not break law

Monday 30 June 2008

Anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders will not face prosecution for inciting racial hatred for his statements on Islam or his short feature film Fitna, the public prosecution department said on Monday.

'The fact that statements are hurtful and offensive to a large number of Muslims does not necessarily mean that such statements are punishable. It is true that some statements insult Muslims, but these were made in the context of public debate,' the department said.

The department looked at Wilders' film Fitna, which drew links between Islam and violence, and an article the MP wrote in the Volkskrant in which he likened the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf and said it should be banned.

Some 40 individuals and organisations had accused Wilders of encouraging religious hatred and made formal complaints against him.

'Freedom of speech plays an essential role in public debate in a democratic society. This means that in a political debate, people may make insulting statements that are hurtful and shocking to specific groups without these statements being punishable,' the department said.

In addition, Wilders attacks Islam as a religion but not its followers, and this is not punishable by law. Nor can it be proven that Wilders is inciting hatred against Muslims, the statement said.

Wilders said he was not surprised by the public prosecution department's decision. 'I have always tried to keep within the Dutch law,' he told news agency ANP.

Wilders said he hoped that countries such as Jordan – which wants legal action against him – would take note. 'They are mad cowboys who think you can just take action against an MP.'

For the full statement, click here

© DutchNews.nl

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