Mixed reactions to Wilders court decision

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Left-wing parties and Muslim groups reacted positively to the decision by Amsterdam's appeal court to back the prosecution of MP Geert Wilders for discrimination and inciting hatred, report several newspapers.

Both the Labour party and the Socialist party said they had to exercise a certain 'reservation' in their reactions because Wilders is an MP. But Labour MP Ton Heerts said it is important for the law to 'interpret a polarising debate, no matter how difficult'.

The Socialists said the prosecution of an MP is a 'very serious' matter, but added that the arguments for doing so are 'not frivolous'.

Abdelmajid Khairoun, chairman of the Dutch Muslim Council (NMO) told the Telegraaf the court ruling may address the feeling of many Muslims that the Netherlands operates double standards.

'Muslim youngsters who make anti-semitic remarks are prosecuted but Wilders' anti-Islamic remarks go unpunished,' he told the paper.

Wilders' own PVV party said it is 'worrying' that an MP should be prosecuted for making his opinions known.

© DutchNews.nl

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