It should be quashed in the interest of free speech as a basis for any free society in which dissent from the positions of the powerful is allowed.
Wilders Defender of Free Speech Update: “Top lawyer to defend Dutch anti-Islam MP Wilders,” by Rob Kievit for Radio Netherlands, February 3 (thanks to Mackie):
Rightwing populist Dutch MP Geert Wilders has enlisted one of the Netherlands’ top lawyers to fight his prosecution over inciting hatred and discrimination. The lawyer, Bram Moszkowicz, has confirmed he is taking the case to the country’s Supreme Court, requesting an immediate end to the proceedings. He is calling for the Court to quash the prosecution order “in the interest of the law”. The Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) is the country’s highest judicial body.
The Amsterdam appeals court in January ordered that Wilders must be prosecuted for inciting hatred and discrimination, and for insulting Muslims by describing the Qur’an as “the Islamic Mein Kampf [Adolf Hitler’s political credo]”. Mr Wilders, leader of the opposition Freedom Party, claims he is doing nothing other than exercising his right to free speech, both inside and outside parliament.
Ruthless fight
Following formal objections by individual citizens and interest groups, the Amsterdam court order reversed a decision by the public prosecutor’s office to refrain from opening a case against Mr Wilders.
On his website, the maverick MP, referring to Mr Moszkowicz, says, “I’ve hired the best lawyer of the Netherlands for a ruthless fight against the charges that I’m facing.”…