Netherlands: Saudi Arabia May Curb Trade Ties Over Wilders' Anti-Islam Slogans

Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders speaks during an
interview with Reuters in The Hague April 17, 2014

REUTERS.COM: Saudi Arabia is considering trade sanctions against the Netherlands because of stickers printed by far-right politician Geert Wilders which display anti-Islam slogans in the colors of the Saudi flag, a Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said.

Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Dutch Freedom Party, is tied in first place with the Democrats in national opinion polls before European Parliament elections that will be held in the Netherlands on Thursday.

His virulent anti-Islam statements have angered many and Wilders has lived under round-the-clock armed guard since he received death threats in 2004.

"We have indications that Saudi Arabia is considering measures because of the insults to its flag and religion by Geert Wilders," Foreign Ministry spokesman Friso Wijnen said. » | Reuters | Amsterdam | Saturday, May 17, 2014

Saudis drohen Den Haag mit Sanktionen wegen Islamkritik »