Posts Tagged ‘Geert Wilders’

Pat holds forth on free speech in Europe, the Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff case, Geert Wilders case Judges – and as usual scores a direct hit on all counts. Essential viewing for lovers of democracy.

A new twist in the Amsterdam show trial, after a second attempt to remove the appallingly biased panel of judges succeeds amid accusations of witness interference (hat tip to Vlad):

A court in the Netherlands has ordered a retrial before a new panel of judges in anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders’ hate speech trial.

Wilders called for the judges to be dismissed after a defence witness alleged improper conduct by a member of an appeals panel directly involved in the case.

A hastily convened panel at the Amsterdam District Court ruled that Wilders’ objections were valid. That means the trial which began in January must be repeated from the beginning with new judges.

Wilders faces charges of inciting hatred against Muslims for many remarks, including some equating Islam with fascism and violence, and others calling for a ban on the Koran and a tax on Muslim headscarves.

It has emerged that the improper conduct was in fact one of the Judges, Tom Schalker, allegedly attempting to interfere with one of Wilders’ witness, Islamic Scholar Hans Jensen, at a dinner he was invited to by a leftwing, pro-Palestinian activist friend.

But of course this case isn’t political – certainly not. Details here (h/t Robert at Jihadwatch.)

Let’s hope that the new panel realise, as did the prosecution, that the trial should never have happened in the first place – and dismiss this kangaroo court, exonerating Wilders completely, before it even gets a chance to restart.

[Source: UKPA]

Wilders could be acquitted next week

“Criticism [of religion] is allowed” - Birgit van Roessel – Dutch prosecutor

Dutch prosecutors have recommended acquitting leading anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders on all five charges of hate speech.

They said his comments had targeted Islam, not Muslims, and he had the right to comment on social issues. Read the rest of this entry »

Geert Wilders addresses party members

Dutch prosecutors Tuesday asked a court trying anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders, the kingmaker in moves to form a new coalition government, to drop a charge that he insulted Muslims as a group.

Wilders will still face charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims even if the court agrees to drop the charge that he insulted Muslims by comparing the Islamic faith to Nazism. Read the rest of this entry »

This YouTube video is presented in Playlist format. Its two parts will play in sequence automatically.

Wafa Sultan, the Arab Muslim doctor who famous for speaking out against the mediaeval doctrine of Islam, is one of Geert Wilders’ eighteen original defence witnesses nominated by the Dutch Freedom Party leader, indicted on ‘hate speech’ charges. This was subsequently pared down to three, by an already biased-looking judiciary.

But why was she not allowed to testify in open court – her testimony relayed soullessly, post facto, in open court only today by one of the judges? There can be no other reason but to dilute the impact of her words – a disgraceful exhibition more worthy of a fifteenth-century witch trial, than justice in a modern, progressive western European nation.

Despite the judges doing all they could to prevent it, however – her words still have resonance.

“When a court indicates a lack of interest in the fundamental legal rights at issue, seeing the trial as anything other than a predetermined political exercise becomes increasingly difficult.” – Aaron Eitan Meyer – The Legal Project, on the Wilders trial

Hat tip to the excellent Vlad Tepes Blog via the equally excellent Tundra Tabloids. There is also a full transcript available at the also-wonderful Gates of Vienna