Wilders’ Islamic attacksare ‘opinions, not facts’

HATE trial Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ attacks on Islam are his opinions, not facts, the hearing was told yesterday.

Wilders has argued that his views of Islam are supported by expert and academic analysis, and that the charges against him are an attack on the freedom of speech.

But at his Amsterdam trial, the prosecution countered that there is no general agreement about the nature of Islam, and Wilders’ statements are opinions that cross the legal threshold.

Under Dutch law, it is illegal to insult or incite hatred against a group of people on the basis of gender, religion, race or sexuality. “What he puts forward is, and remains, his individual opinion, and just like with any expression of opinion, we can test whether it falls under the right to freedom of expression, or whether it is a transgression of the criminal code,” said prosecutor Birgit van Roessel.

The case against Wilders is based on dozens of public statements. Typical among them were views he published in an opinion piece in the national newspaper De Volkskrant.

“I’ve had enough of Islam in the Netherlands; let not one more Muslim immigrate,” he wrote.

“I’ve had enough of the Koran in the Netherlands: Forbid that fascist book.”

As recently as August he repeated his view, rejected by Muslims, that Islam is inherently violent and backward.

“Our culture which is based on Christianity, Judaism and humanism, is better than the retarded Islamic culture, and this is tough to say, but it is true,” he said in a televised interview. “It is a violent ideology like communism and fascism and we should deal with it that way.”

Wilders, who polls suggest is the Netherlands’ most popular politician, denies the charges. He says his opinions are protected by freedom of speech and endorsed by more than a million people who voted for him in national elections last June.

Without addressing any of Wilders’ specific remarks, Van Roessel said freedom of speech has limits.

Prosecutors will make their sentencing demand, if any, at the next hearing on Friday.

The defence is due to present its case next week, with a verdict expected on November 5.