[USATODAY] An anti-Islam and Dutch political populist whose party is leading in polls ahead of March parliamentary elections in the Netherlands was found guilty of hate speech Friday.Geert Wilders' case centered on comments he made during elections in the Netherlands in 2014.
Prosecutors noted that at one meeting in a Hague cafe, Wilders asked supporters whether they wanted more or fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands. That sparked a chant of "Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!" Wilders replied: "We’ll take care of it."
No sentence was imposed. Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said that was because the conviction was punishment enough for a democratically elected politician three months before national elections.
Wilders said the verdict was "madness" and he would appeal the decision. He has long insisted his comments about im
"The Netherlands has become a sick country," Wilders said in a video posted on his Twitter feed Friday. "I am not a racist and neither are my voters," he said in the video. "This sentence proves that you judges are completely out of touch. Support for the Party for Freedom is stronger than ever and keeps growing every day. The Dutch want their country back."
| An Nahar points out a subtle distinction: |