A special Amsterdam court tribunal ruled on Tuesday that the trial of MP Geert Wilders on charges of inciting hatred can go ahead on Wednesday, despite claims that the sitting judges have shown bias.

On Monday, Wilders’ lawyer Bram Moszkowicz challenged the legitimacy of the court after the presiding judge appeared to criticise Wilders’ decision not to answer any questions.
Wilders evoked his right to silence at the start of the trial, saying he would not answer any questions and that his lawyer would answer on his behalf.
Presiding judge Jan Moors then said Wilders had often been accused of avoiding discussion about his views on Islam and Muslims. ‘By remaining silent, it seems you’re doing that today as well,’ he told the anti-Islam campaigner.
Moors added he was trying to confirm that Wilders really wanted to stay silent and realised what the consequences of that could be.
Judges at the special hearing said Moors’ comments, although clumsily formulated, should be seen in this light and did not imply prejudice against Wilders.
Wilders, a silent partner of the probable new government, is on trial in Amsterdam on charges of discrimination and inciting hatred against Muslims, Moroccans and non-Western immigrants.
The trial centres on a number of statements made by Wilders over the years. In one, he likened the Koran to Hitler’s book Mein Kampf and called for it to be banned.
In another, he said: ‘The borders will be closed that day for all non-western immigrants….We have to stop the tsunami of islamisation. It is affecting our heart, our identity, our culture.’
The trial will resume on Wednesday at 09.00 hours.