Wilders speech to close anti-Moroccan discrimination case
Geert Wilders will attend at least one hearing in the hate-speech trial currently ongoing against him. On Twitter he announced that he will make use of his right to have the final word in what he calls the "trial against freedom of expression". The PVV leader will have his chance to speak on Wednesday, NOS reports.
Wilders previously stated that he will not attend the trial because it is a political process that should take place in parliament and not a court room. He is standing trial for statements he made about Moroccans while campaigning in The Hague in March 2014. At one point he said that The Hague should be a city with fewer problems "and if possible fewer Moroccans". A few days later he asked a cafe full of people whether they want more or fewer Moroccans in the country, they responded by chanting "fewer, fewer, fewer". On Thursday the Public Prosecutor demanded a 5 thousand euro fine against the politician.
On Friday and Monday Wilders' lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops made his defense arguments. According to him, the Public Prosecutor abused its power by charging Wilders. The lawyer accused the Prosecutor of charging Wilders only because he does not agree with the PVV leader's statements, not because they are punishable.
Knoops ended his defense on Monday by appealling to the judges not be guided by their feelings about Wilders. The most important message of this process is that it is not about Wilders. It transcends that interest, it is about democracy in this country and freedom." He also called on the court to postpone the verditct until after the elections in March, if it comes to a conviction.
The court will rule on December 9th.
