Geert Wilders cleared of hate charges by Dutch court

A good day for freedom of speech, and a good day for Geert Wilders.
Not so good for the many Muslims that have had their panties in a bunch because the thought that Geert was being a racist!
Any time you diss Islam, you are called a Racist... though Islam is not a race.
If you say anything bad about Muslims (Regardless of what they do) you are an Islamaphobe.
so seeing Mr. Wilders prevail in this decision is awesome,
not that Muslims will understand it.

BBC
Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders has been acquitted of charges of inciting hatred against Muslims.

Mr Wilders had described Islam as "fascist", comparing the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

He insisted his statements were directed at Islam and not at Muslim believers - something which is legal under Dutch law.

Judge Marcel van Oosten told him his statements were "acceptable within the context of public debate".

"The bench finds that although gross and degenerating, it did not give rise to hatred," he said.

The verdict was greeted with applause from Mr Wilders' supporters in the public gallery.

Outside the courtroom, the 47-year-old politician said he was "incredibly happy" with the

Supporters of Geert Wilders erupted into applause in the public gallery of the court as presiding judge Marcel van Oosten acquitted the populist politician of all charges of hate speech and discrimination against Muslims.

Judges found that while some of his comments, especially his words about a "tsunami" of immigrants, had been "crude and denigrating", they were legal and a legitimate part of the country's ongoing debate over multi-culturalism.

Mr Wilders called the verdict a victory for free speech and many analysts agree that the scope of debate in this country's culture wars may have just been widened.

Mr Wilders is an enormously popular politician here and the support of his Freedom Party is crucial to the current centre-right government, which is adopting many of his anti-immigrant positions.

With the acquittal, it appears the radical views of Mr Wilders are now more mainstream in a country that for decades was viewed as one of the most liberal and tolerant in the world.

"It's not only an acquittal for me, but a victory for freedom of expression in the Netherlands," he said.

Dutch police arrest Somalis over terrorism plot

So many Somalians, So little time.

You gotta stay on top of these jackass's.



(Reuters) - Dutch police arrested 12 Somalis on Christmas Eve on suspicion of plotting an imminent terrorist attack in the Netherlands.

The alleged plot was uncovered in a country seen as a potential target for militants over its former military role with NATO forces in Afghanistan and due to the growing influence of an anti-Muslim party at home.

Twelve men aged between 19 and 48 were arrested late on Friday after a message was received from the Dutch intelligence and security service AIVD, prosecutors said in a statement.

"The (AIVD) message reports that a number of Somalis wanted to make a terrorist attack in the Netherlands in the short term," the prosecutors said. They did not say what the intended target was.

Prosecutors Ask to Drop Anti-Islam Charges Against Dutch Lawmaker Geert Wilders

Mr.Wilders has been found not guilty !

Will there be Muslim Outrage in the Netherlands?
Maybe, but they probably will be Packing their bags while they do it !


Foxnews
The criminal case against Geert Wilders appears to be unraveling.

Wilders, the controversial Dutch lawmaker and filmmaker known for his outspoken stances against Islam, was facing prosecution in his home country for allegedly inciting racial hatred. But prosecutors in the case said Friday they've asked the court to drop the charges.

The prosecutors now say that Wilders was targeting the religion, not Muslim individuals, and he has some leeway as a lawmaker to make statements about social problems, Reuters reported.

Earlier this month, Wilders appealed for freedom of expression and then exercised his right to silence as the trial began, at a time when his popularity and influence in the Netherlands are near all-time highs.

Dutch close in on government with anti-Islam party backing

Geert "The Man" Wilders , is ready to stir things up in the Dutch Parliament , Once the Coalition of Minority Parties takes over !


(Reuters) - Pushing an austerity agenda, two right-leaning Dutch parties agreed Friday to have talks to form a minority government with support from an anti-Islam party five months after the last government collapsed.

The minority government -- a rarity in Dutch politics -- would include the Liberal Party (VVD), which narrowly won June 9 elections after a broader government collapsed over the Afghan military mission, and the Christian Democrats (CDA).

The Freedom Party (PVV), which wants to stop Muslim immigration and ban the Koran in the Netherlands, has agreed to back the minority government in the Dutch parliament, leader Geert Wilders said on Dutch NOS Radio 1.

The Christian Democrats had resisted forming a majority government with the PVV because of its hardline stance on Islam.

But Christian Democratic leader Maxime Verhagen said he was convinced the CDA and VVD could reach a pact that would do justice to CDA principles of freedom of religion and education.

"At the same time it is possible to come to a stable political cooperation which can have PVV's support," he told Dutch radio.

Surge for Dutch anti-Islam Freedom Party

It is Probably a safe bet that Muslims within the netherlands Will soon be facing a lot more Bans than they ever have .


Mr Wilders has campaigned to stop the "Islamisation of the Netherlands".

He wants the Koran banned, and has suggested a tax on headscarves worn by Muslim women.




BBC
A Dutch anti-Islam party has more than doubled its seats in parliament in a national vote, though it is unclear if it will take part in a coalition.

Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders said he wanted to be part of government.

The election saw the centre-right Liberal Party (VVD) emerging as the largest party, one seat ahead of the centre-left Labour Party.

The Christian Democrat party of outgoing Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende suffered a big defeat.

Weeks of coalition negotiations are expected to follow the election.

With more than 99% of votes counted, the VVD had 31 of 150 seats, while Labour had 30.

As the party with the most seats, VVD leader Mark Rutte could now become the first prime minister from his political camp since World War I.
Headscarf tax

The unexpected big winner was the anti-Islam Freedom Party, the PVV, which took its number of seats from nine in the last parliament to 24 - its best-ever finish.

The campaign had been dominated by a debate over the economy, which was thought to have eclipsed immigration as an election issue.

Many would not view the Freedom Party as an acceptable partner in a coalition.

Its leader, Geert Wilders, faces a criminal trial later this year on charges of inciting hatred and discrimination with his anti-Islamic film Fitna.

It is expected that the most likely coalition would be a left-right combination, known as a Purple Coalition - with the Liberals, Labour, and the smaller Green Left and Liberal Democrats.

But coalition talks can take weeks.

But the strong showing for the Freedom Party, led by the controversial Geert Wilders, is a sign that immigration was still a powerful theme, correspondents say.

Mr Wilders has campaigned to stop the "Islamisation of the Netherlands".

He wants the Koran banned, and has suggested a tax on headscarves worn by Muslim women.

"Nobody in The Hague can bypass the PVV anymore," he said on Thursday, AFP news agency reported. "We want to be part of the new government."

Anti-Islamic Dutch Lawmaker Faces Hate Speech Trial

Go get em Geert !
let's hope we see Mr. Wilders walk away from this unscathed .
Foxnews
NEW YORK — Supporters of Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders are demonstrating outside an Amsterdam court where he is appearing to answer charges of inciting hate against the Netherlands' Muslim minority.

Wilders' lawyer Bram Moszkowicz has challenged the court's jurisdiction and argued the case against his client is unfounded.

Wilders has been charged over remarks comparing the Quran to Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and calling for it to be banned in the Netherlands. He has become one of the country's leading politicians by giving a voice to anti-immigrant sentiment.

Presiding Judge Jan Moors assured Wilders on Wednesday he would receive a fair trial.

Supporters outside the court said Wilders' prosecution is an assault on freedom of speech.