“Things are not looking good for me. In its 33-page ruling ordering my prosecution, the appeals court already determined I was guilty.”
I hope Wilders can come to America, and be granted asylum here. Of course, the new Administration is unlikely to look kindly upon such an appeal.
“Dutch MP behind film on radical Islam: Decision to prosecute me is political,” by Cnaan Liphshitz for Haaretz, January 23 :
Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, the director of a controversial film on radical Islam, says the decision by the Amsterdam Court of Appeals on Wednesday to prosecute him for allegedly inciting hatred against Muslims was strictly political.
“It puts hundreds of thousands of Dutchmen on trial for opposing Islam’s violent messages,” the MP told Haaretz on Thursday. […]
In the interview on Thursday, Wilders maintained that his film, entitled Fitna, is within the boundaries of Dutch law and freedom of expression. “I consulted numerous legal authorities before releasing the film,” he stressed.
He added: “Things are not looking good for me. In its 33-page ruling ordering my prosecution, the appeals court already determined I was guilty. Now the case will be reviewed by a lower court and there’s every chance the judge will align his ruling with the appeals courts.”
Later in the conversation he said: “I hope this thing doesn’t end behind bars.” As Wilders has not yet been charged, the maximum penalty for the alleged transgressions remains unclear.
If wilders [sic] appeals a future conviction, his appeal will be heard before the same court which ordered his prosecution….