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Dutch politician Geert Wilders boycotts hate-speech trial | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has failed to turn up for a trial where he is charged with racial discrimination and inciting hatred. | |
The charges were brought after he led a chant for fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands at a rally 18 months ago. | The charges were brought after he led a chant for fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands at a rally 18 months ago. |
Mr Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), said the trial at Schiphol, was political and "a travesty". | |
If convicted, he faces a fine and a year in prison. | If convicted, he faces a fine and a year in prison. |
Mr Wilders has repeatedly criticised Islam, calling for the Koran to be banned and for the closure of all mosques in the Netherlands. | Mr Wilders has repeatedly criticised Islam, calling for the Koran to be banned and for the closure of all mosques in the Netherlands. |
'Political trial' | 'Political trial' |
The trial, in a high-security courtroom, heard that 6,474 complaints had been made in response to Mr Wilders' remarks at a rally in 2014. A sample of 35 complaints was read out. | |
Prosecutors argued that Geert Wilders crossed a line when he asked supporters if they wanted "fewer or more Moroccans" in the Netherlands. | |
After supporters chanted back "fewer", he replied: "We'll organise that." | After supporters chanted back "fewer", he replied: "We'll organise that." |
Mr Wilders denounced the trial as an attempt to suppress freedom of speech. | |
"This is a political process, and I refuse to co-operate with it. We have to talk about politics in parliament, not in the courtroom," he said in a statement read by his lawyer. | |
But the prosecutor insisted Mr Wilders was wrong to assume that as a politician his remarks were exempt from laws on hate speech. | |
In 2011, Mr Wilders was acquitted of incitement after being accused of encouraging hatred towards Muslims. | In 2011, Mr Wilders was acquitted of incitement after being accused of encouraging hatred towards Muslims. |
The latest trial comes as opinion polls suggest the PVV is consistently faring well in polls, ahead of parliamentary elections in March. | |
The party is currently second, behind Prime Minister Mark Rutte's liberal VVD, and is predicted to win 23 seats in the 150-seat parliament. |