“I Will Not Stand Trial Alone”

There’s one thing you can say about the Dutch political establishment: it is thoroughly immune to irony.

The images of burning cars and firebombed synagogues have barely faded from the TV screens of the Netherlands.

The cries of “Heil Hitler!” and “Jews to the gas!” that mingled with “Allahu akhbar!” are still echoing in the glass-strewn streets.

Yet Geert Wilders — who speaks out against these barbaric forces, and proposes to halt the Islamization of his country in order to put a stop to them — is the one who is being prosecuted for “hate speech”.

The true heirs of National Socialism rage unimpeded through the streets of Europe, while Geert Wilders is the one who “incites hatred” and “insults groups of people”.

Go figure.

According to Elsevier, as translated by our Flemish correspondent VH:

Wilders: Court decision is an assault on free speech

By Claudia van Zanten

The PVV leader said he was deeply affected by the ruling of the court in Amsterdam. The court decided Wednesday to prosecute PVV leader Geert Wilders for “discrimination, incitement to hatred, and insulting groups of people.”

“This is apparently is the way the Netherlands sticks together. If you give your opinion, you run the risk of being prosecuted. Taking part in the public debate has become a dangerous activity,” Wilders said in a response.

Islamization of the Netherlands

“If I have to stand trial, I will not be alone, stand trial alone, but also with the hundreds of thousands of Dutch people who reject the Islamization of the Netherlands,” says the PVV leader.

“Their opinion is only represented in The Hague [parliament] by the Party for Freedom. Who else will stand for our culture when I have to remain silent? This strengthens me in these harsh days,” he continues.

Wilders is worried of the costs of the court case. “We depend on small donations. The PVV is the only party that is not conditional on making itself dependent on subsidies. The ruling of the Court will endanger the survival of the Party for Freedom. The hundreds of thousands we will loose on the costs are impossible for us to afford.”

“A Black Day”

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The PVV leader considers today “a black day.”

The court is of the opinion that the statements on Islam and Muslims produce a “reasonable suspicion of guilt”. Therefore, the Criminal Judge has to pass a judgment on it, the court finds. The Judge must also pass a judgment on Wilders’ comparison of the Quran with Mein Kampf.

Concern

The VVD [Liberal party] calls it worrisome that a parliamentarian is being prosecuted for statements which he makes as a politician. It is the task of member of parliament let his views be heard in society, according to VVD MP Fred Teeven.

“It is good that the justice is going to express itself in a debate that increasingly polarizes,” PvdA [Labour] member Ton Heerts says.