Dutch politician acquitted of hate speech
Court rules Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam statements part of national debate over immigration policy
A Dutch court acquitted politician Geert Wilders of inciting hatred against Muslims on Thursday. The judge ruled that the right-wing politician’s comments, which included comparing Islam with Nazism and calling for a ban on the Quran, were within the limits of legitimate political debate. The Amsterdam court also said a direct link couldn’t be established between his statements and increased discrimination against Dutch Muslims. Wilders, who is one of the most powerful and popular politicians in the Netherlands, called the acquittal “a victory for freedom of expression in the Netherlands.”
Related Posts
General
Maclean’s 2022 Student Survey Contest Rules
CONTEST RULES (the “Official Rules”) Maclean’s Student Survey 2022 Contest (the “Contest”) WHO ARE THE SPONSORS?...
General
Maclean’s Registration wall FAQ
You can read five Macleans.ca articles every 30 days. To read more, you must create an account or log in to an existing...
Life
Debating the pros and cons of Daylight Saving Time
Ahead of the end of this year’s daylight saving on Nov. 7, Shannon Proudfoot breaks down the pros and cons of the increasingly unpopular practice
Get the Best of Maclean’s straight to your inbox.
Sign up for news, commentary and analysis. Join 60,000+ Canadian readers.