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Europe

Muslims tell Dutch court Wilders is dangerous

2010-10-19

[Al Arabiya] Mohammedans told judges trying anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders for hate speech Monday that he was dangerous, dividing a multicultural society that used to cohabit peacefully.
Ummm... Precisely when was that?

When the Mohammedan population hadn't yet reached critical mass, and so was bent on assimilation.

"Mr. Wilders is a dangerous ideologist who has divided Dutch society," Naoual Abaida, a trainee lawyer with a native Dutch mother and Moroccan father, told the court. "I am asking you to protect me as a Mohammedan and a Moroccan against Mr. Wilders," she said, referring to his "Islam-bashing" and "insulting, polarizing language".
If you're a Moroccan what's your concern with internal Dutch politix?
Wilders, 47, went on trial on October 4 for inciting hatred by calling Islam "fascist" and likening the Koran to Hitler's "Mein Kampf". The prosecution service asked the court for his acquittal last Friday, saying his criticism, though hurtful, was not criminal.
If they do criminalize hurt feelings I know a lot of people who're headed for the calaboose. And I might point out that the content of Wilders' film Fitna consists of Mohammedans saying things that are major hurtful.
On Monday, lawyers for Wilders' accusers -- a group of individuals from around the country -- asked for a guilty verdict and a symbolic damages award of one euro. "We are the daily target of xenophobic statements," Mohamed Rabbae, politician and activist, told the judges as Wilders looked on, occasionally lifting his eyebrows or making faces.
"The Defendant will refrain from making donkey ears at the witness!"

"Our children have become unsure about their future ... in this climate of discrimination, hate and enmity as propagated by Mr. Wilders."

But the hate and enmity propagated in so many Dutch mosques is perfectly acceptable...

This in turn caused "anger, bitterness and a deepening of the divide between Mohammedans and native Dutch", said Rabbae.

Oddly enough, the lawyer-in-training mentioned above, born in Holland of a native Dutch mother, could justifiably consider himself native Dutch as well. He just chose not to.

In June 2008, the prosecution service dismissed dozens of complaints against the politician, citing his right to freedom of speech. But appeals judges ordered in January 2009 that he stand trial as his utterances amounted to "sowing hatred" -- compelling the prosecution to mount a case against him.

Wilders, who will give parliamentary support to a new, rightist

Center-right, actually, but what price a little accuracy?

coalition government inaugurated last Thursday, risks up to a year in jail or a 7,600 fine for comments made in his campaign to "stop the Islamisation of the Netherlands".

Wilders' defense lawyer will make his case on Tuesday and Friday. Judgment is expected on November 5.

Posted by:Fred

#6 Wilders lifted his eyebrows! It's about time someone got dangerous over there.

Posted by: KBK 2010-10-19 21:06

#5 To paraphrase James Taranto "Theo Van Gogh could not be reached for comment".

Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2010-10-19 19:39

#4 I' ve never heard of him waging jihad or cutting anyones head off!

Posted by: chris 2010-10-19 15:46

#3 Muslims tell Dutch court Wilders is dangerous

To their Religion of murder, yes he is.
He tells the truth, they Can't stand truth, it puts them in a very poor light.

Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-10-19 11:14

#2 It might have been interesting if he had done nothing except get up there and quote the Quaran.

"Our children have become unsure about their future ... in this climate of discrimination, hate and enmity as propagated by Mr. Wilders."

What they are really afraid of is that their children would have any suggestion to doubt Islam or (gasp!) be exposed to other religions which (gasp again!) value life and love instead of death and murder. Or (OMG! gap a third time!) be exposed to actual Jews and find out that they aren't the inhuman bloodsucking monsters their parents and Imans made them out to be.

That is what keeps them up at night.

Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-10-19 10:42

#1 I am on tenterhooks waiting for his defense. By choosing to not speak on his own behalf, he has defied his enemies, who were hoping he would rant and rave on the stand.

So what will it be?

Perhaps his attorney will say something that will strongly appeal to the Dutch, but just technically crosses the legal line, so the court orders his attorney to shut up.

Or, more typically, they might go for the gold with a "truth is a defense" tack, which is not popular in the EU, if so among the people.

He also must consider whether an acquittal, if he gets one, would be appealed to a higher court controlled by his enemies, and with no jury.

Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-10-19 09:42

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