Dutch court pushes ahead with hate speech trial

mail.com ^ | ap

[VU4G10]

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Dutch appeals judges on Monday ordered the continuation of anti-Islam lawmaker's Geert Wilders' hate speech trial, rejecting his claim that the court trying him was biased.

Wilders is on trial on charges of "making statements insulting to Muslims as a group," and inciting hatred against Muslims.

Presiding judge Marcel van Oosten rebuffed defense calls for the case to be dropped, saying "his right to presumption of innocence has not been violated."

He said a judge who discussed the case with a witness at a dinner party had not attempted to tamper with the witness and the court's independence had been demonstrated.

One of Europe's most prominent right-wing populists, Wilders argues that his remarks comparing Islam to Nazism and calling for a ban on the Quran are part of legitimate public debate that is protected by freedom of speech.

[Londo Molari]

Wow — what an enlightened free speech society.//sarc
I know they don’t have a constitution that protects free speech, but this is downright Nazi-like.

[6SJ7]

He said a judge who discussed the case with a witness at a dinner party..

The fact the judge was even at a dinner party with one of the witnesses should disqualify the judge.

[samtheman]

the showing of his short film "Fitna," which argues Islam is by nature a violent religion. Its release in 2008 led to protest in many Muslim countries.

I don't suppose that was "violent protest", was it?

[Scotsman will be Free]

There’s a reason the krauts considered the dutch first cousins.

[A'elian' nation]

“Prosecutors are expected to repeat their calls for acquittal”

What a crazy idea of justice! Even the prosecutors presenting the case against Wilders are arguing for his acquittal.

Why even bother to have a trial? Just let the Nazi judges rule on their pre-determined verdict of guilty. Even judges were tampering with witnesses and evidence.

I am gratified that this travesty of EU ‘justice’ is being shown for the corrupt process it is.

I am certain that Wilder’s Freedom Party will benefit greatly by such blatant abject PC cowering to Islam.

” Political correctness does not legislate tolerance; it only organizes hatred.” Jacques Barzun

[sergeantdave]

We’ve been through this before:

When Adolf Hitler rose to power, he deemed the current judicial system too lenient - or perhaps not loyal enough - and he instituted the “National Socialist People’s Court” - the Volksgerichtshof (VGH). The VGH dealt solely with cases of treason against Hitler and the Nazis. Roland Freisler, the spirited lawyer and admirer of Hitler, was VGH president from 1942 until his death in 1945. Under Freisler, the VGH convicted thousands for political actions, speech and expressed thoughts that it considered treasonous. The definition of treason was flexible and, in most cases, defense in the courtroom was futile. Guilty verdicts were generally a foregone conclusion and death sentences (which were prevalent in these cases) were carried out within hours of the verdict.

http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-general/10052-roland-freisler-hitler-s-judge.html

[Zeppo]

Presiding judge Marcel van Oosten rebuffed defense calls for the case to be dropped, saying "his right to presumption of innocence has not been violated." He said a judge who discussed the case with a witness at a dinner party had not attempted to tamper with the witness and the court's independence had been demonstrated.

I ran that through Google translate, and this is what it said:

"The fix is in..."

[SoCal SoCon]

The legal definition of hate speech is speech intended to incite violence against a particular group. Judging from the article what Wilders said was not hate speech. This case doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

[muawiyah]

Unfortunately when it comes to Nederland the de-Nazification program didn't go far enough. If it had virtually the entirety of the best educated classes of people would still be in prison.