Geert Wilders, who will become a shadow partner in the next Dutch government, went on trial on 4 October 2010 having been charged with five counts of giving religious offence to Muslims and inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and people of non-Western immigrant origin. He risks up to a year in jail or a 7,600 euro fine if found guilty.
The Dutch MP is known for his outspoken comments on Islam. He has been accused of describing Islam as "the sick ideology of Allah and Mohammed" and its holy book as "the Mein Kampf of a religion that seeks to eliminate others". His controversial 2008 film about Islam in the Netherlands, Fitna, received international attention after it equated Islam’s texts with violence and called on Muslims to remove ‘hate-preaching’ verses from the Koran.
Mr. Wilders Freedom Party (PVV) was back by 1.5 million voters during the June 2010 elections, placing it third with 24 seats out of 150 in the Dutch lower house of parliament. He and his party's 23 other MPs have lent their support to a minority conservative government in return for key policy concessions, such as a Dutch burka ban and new curbs on immigration.
Speaking at his trial yesterday, Mr Wilders said: "I am sitting here as a suspect because I have spoken nothing but the truth. I have said what I have said and I will not take one word back."
Mr Wilders attacked the three judges sitting in the Amsterdam court for prosecuting him for "stating my opinion in the context of public debate". "I can assure you, I will continue proclaiming it," he said.
Mr. Wilders has been living under police protection since 2005 due to the multiple death threats on his life from Islamists.
Sources:
Daily Mail
The Guardian
The Times (subscription required)