Hate Speech in the Netherlands

by Symi Rom-Rymer Last week, popular far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders was acquitted of all charges of inciting hatred against Muslims.  The allegations made against him were based on his provocative statements that likened the Koran to Mein Kampf and called Islam a fascist religion.  The judges, after just 20 minutes of deliberation, threw out the case.  According to the BBC, “although the found warning of a 'tsunami' of immigrants to be on the border of what is permissible, they said he had stayed within the bounds of the law.   judges called some of Mr. Wilders’ comments 'crude and denigrating,' but not illegal.”  Buoyed by his success, Wilders gave a victory speech following the verdict in which he did nothing to tamp down the controversy surrounding him.  Instead, he declared that his win...

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