Dutch MP Geert Wilders has engaged one of the country’s top lawyers to fight a potential prosecution for incitement to hatred.
(more…)
A Dutch court has ordered the prosecution of Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders for inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims. The charges relate to Fitna, a film he made last year in which he compared the Quran to Mein Kampf and drew a direct link between Islam and violence. Mr Wilders has called the decision ‘an ‘attack on the freedom of expression’.
Read more here
Controversial short film Fitna has been removed from video-hosting site LiveLeak after threats were made against staff. Meanwhile, the Iranian government has summoned the Dutch ambassador in order to register protest against the film. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has published an article in the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, calling on people ‘to keep their head[s] cool and relations warm’.
See Liveleak’s statment here.