RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Geert Wilders' defence lawyer told a court in Amsterdam on Tuesday that his client had been denied a fair trial. The Freedom party leader faces charges of inciting hatred, discrimination against minorities and insulting Muslims.
Last year an appeal court ordered the Public Prosecutor's office to press charges, despite its belief that the MP was protected by the right to free speech. >>> | Tuesday, October 19, 2010
AFP: THE HAGUE — A defence lawyer rejected accusations of hate speech and xenophobia against Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders on Tuesday, urging judges not to "shoot the messenger".
"In his eyes, Islam is a totalitarian ideology," the politician's lawyer Bram Moszkowicz told judges of the Amsterdam district court on the first day of defence pleadings broadcast live via the Internet.
"He is trying to prevent violence from being committed with the Koran in hand," the lawyer said, adding: "Don't shoot the messenger." >>> AFP | Tuesday, October 19, 2010
