Wilders cleared of inciting hatred against Islam

THE BOUNDARIES of free speech in Europe have widened after a Dutch court acquitted politician Geert Wilders of inciting hatred against Muslims when he compared Islam with Nazism and called for a ban on the Koran.

Political analysts say the ruling will likely embolden Wilders and other right-wing populists across the continent to ramp up their anti-immigrant rhetoric, with remarks like Wilders’ call for a “head rag tax” now placed within the boundaries of fair political debate.

The ruling did lay down a clear limit: calls for violence remain out of bounds. Wilders, who has lived under constant police protection due to death threats since 2004, has never called for violence or endorsed it.