DutchNews.nl - Wilders: Decision as good as guilty verdict

The Amsterdam appeal court is showing political bias by deciding he should be prosecuted for inciting hatred, anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders says in an interview with the NRC.

'I have studied it [the ruling] and I have concluded that it is a political ruling,' the MP said.

The appeal court said on Wednesday that Wilders' should face charges, overturning a decision by the public prosecution department not to take him to court.

And in a reference to justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin’s plans to include blasphemy in existing anti-discrimination legislation Wilders told the paper: 'The Wall street Journal is right: the court has introduced Saudi norms here.'

Wilders who will be prosecuted for statements like ‘ban the Koran’ and ‘the heart of the problem is the fascist nature of Islam', told the NRC he feels he has been treated unfairly by the court.

'I was not asked any questions by the court and I have not been able to call any witnesses for the defence or experts,' he said. Wilders claims that the appeal court’s decision is as good as a guilty verdict and labeled the procedure 'banana justice'.

Asked if he thought comparing Mein Kampf to the Koran and calling Islam a fascist ideology fall within the boundaries of the law Wilders replied that he does not see Islam as a religion but as a 'dangerous, totalitarian' ideology.

'I am allowed to say that. If I had said the same about communism there would not be a problem. I have always criticised ideologies, people never,' he told the NRC.

The MP says he thinks incitement to violence would be overstepping the mark but insists this is not what he does. 'The cabinet distinguishes between western and non-western immigrants. I go that little bit further. But these things should be thrashed out in the political arena, not in court,' he said.

Wilders is probably only right about one thing, but he's still right on that: freedom of speech has been and continues to be severely threatened in this country due to religious protectionism.

By José Pedro Magalhães | January 22, 2009 4:44 PM

Wilders has all the right to say what he want to say. Court has not rights to take away his freedom of speech.

By Vanniarajan | January 23, 2009 9:42 AM

Had these comments been made about Christianity, Buddism or ANY other religion, the court would have been silent. Now they follow Islam's lead in silencing the dissent of free speech.

By Steve C | January 23, 2009 12:28 PM

I don't know when the world is going to be civilized, why do we have to offend each other, why do we have to criticize those who are different from us (race, riligion, sexuality, ....). Do you think the world is going to be better that way, i believe NOT. You are just filling our world with hate, STOP IT. In each group, you will find extremists, like Wilders himself, does that call for stereotypning everybody as an extremist if he belongs to those groups.. Just wake up, before you destroy the world with your foolness.

By O'Kily | January 23, 2009 11:11 PM

No way, not if we can help it, you wont be found guilty and the charges will be dropped as ridiculous and politically motivated. Hang in there Mr. Wilders, help is on it's way, you have thousands of supporters all over the world!

By sandra | January 26, 2009 8:00 AM