Solsticewitch13's BOS: Geert Wilders Cleared of All Charges!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Geert Wilders Cleared of All Charges!

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 11:28 AM PDT

This from Sky News: A Dutch court has cleared Geert Wilders of inciting hatred, and his anti-Islam comments were deemed legitimate political debate.

Geert Wilders said he was "incredibly happy" after being cleared of all charges. The MP faced five counts of inciting hatred among Muslims following his controversial statements attacking Islam, which he compared to Nazism.

But the court ruled his comments, while offensive to many Muslims, fell within the bounds of legitimate political debate and cleared him of all charges.

Presiding judge Marcel van Oosten said Mr. Wilders' public claims must be seen in a wider context of debate over immigration policy.

Outside the courtroom, Mr Wilders said he was "incredibly happy" with the decision. "It's not only an acquittal for me, but a victory for freedom of expression in the Netherlands," he said. "Fortunately you're allowed to discuss Islam in public debate and you're not muzzled in public debate. An enormous burden has fallen from my shoulders."

Mr. Wilders is widely known for his anti-Islam message, calling for a halt to Muslim immigration and to ban the Islamic faith's holy book, the Quran.

Soon after he made the comments he had to be put under police protection following a number of death threats.

Before proceedings got under way last year, he claimed: "I have said what I have said and I will not take one word back." He argued his statements represent the views of millions of Dutch voters and they are protected by freedom of speech law.

Mr. Wilders also claimed the charges against him were politically motivated and his trial was adjourned last year after he accused the judges of bias.