Netherlands: the trial Began of the far-right Βίλντερς for incitement to racial hatred

Started Monday in absentia, the trial of Dutch right-wing mp Γκέερτ Βίλντερς, who is accused of…
discrimination and incitement to racial hatred.
The lawyer of the Γκέερτ-Jan Κνουπς read the statement of Βίλντερς, in which the politician explains that he chose not to appear before the court. “It is a political trial, and I decided not to be present. It is my right as a politician to express myself, if there’s a problem in the Netherlands,” said the right-wing politician in his communication.
The court of Schiphol near Amsterdam to try the 53-year-old Βίλντερς for the statement that he had made two years ago that he wants “fewer Moroccans” in the Netherlands.
The trial, expected to last until 25 November, concerning the statements that he had made the Βίλντερς after the municipal elections of March 2014 in the Hague. Then the politician asked the fans if they want “fewer or more Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands”.
In front of a crowd shouted “Fewer! Fewer!”, the politician had replied, smiling: “I’ll take care of it”. According to his lawyer, “the only thing that he did with this statement was to project the program of his party”.
These statements of Βίλντερς had caused a scandal and had been away many voters from the populist party, while they had deposited most of the 6,400 appeals at the expense of citizens and organisations.
Today, at least 56 persons and five associations declare themselves victims of such statements and at least 34 persons have indicated that they will testify as witnesses in anticipation of trial, as announced by the judges.
If found guilty, the Βίλντερς may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of more than 20,000 euros, but according to experts most likely to be asked to perform community service or a small fine.
This is the second trial of the Βίλντερς with the appropriate categories. 2011 was acquitted.
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