The Second Day of the Kangaroo Trial

Below is the latest report from our Dutch correspondent H. Numan about the trial of Geert Wilders in Amsterdam, based on Dutch-language media reports.

Mr. Numan’s mention of “Freisler” in his report is a reference to Roland Freisler (pictured below), who was a wartime judge in Nazi Germany.

Freisler’s appointment as president of the “People’s Court” in 1942 gave him the oversight of political crimes in the Third Reich. One of his more famous assignments was to preside over the trial of the conspirators in the “July Plot” against Hitler.


The second day of the kangaroo trial

By H. Numan

Again a fuss over the words of Judge Freisler Moors.

The second day in the Wilders case began with rising tensions. Again the president of the court offended the defense. This time with a remark about the movie Fitna.

At the beginning of the court session the movie Fitna was shown in the court. A woman who filed charges against Wilders raised an objection to having to see this movie. Mr.* Moors said in response he could very well understand that someone who filed charges against Wilders did not want to see this movie. He said to the defense that he hadn’t given a judgment, merely that he stated his own private opinion. The woman left the court room.

Challenge request

Monday, when the trial began, Moors offended the defendant for the first time [and certainly not the last time — translator]. This was the reason that defense counsel Mr. Bram Moszkowicz issued a challenge request for the court. The request was rejected. Mr. Moors resumed the session without uttering a word about this affair.

Mr. Moszkowicz addressed the court on the matter, but did not issue a request to challenge the court.


Note:

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The title “Mr.” stands in Dutch for “Meester”, not “mister”. It is the honorary title awarded to those who hold a Ph.D. in law.