Legal News

Head of ‘Party for Freedom’ (PVV) leader Geert Wilders was convicted on Friday the 9th of December in Dutch Court for inciting discrimination against Moroccans.

Geert Wilders was convicted in Amsterdam. A 3 week long trial in a high-security court heard his live television post election speech from 2014. Hendrik Steenhuis, chairman of the judges, said the remarks were clearly aimed at an ethnic population group and delivered in a televised speech for maximum effect.

Aina Khan, Head of the Islamic Department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, said:

“I have just returned from speaking at the second of two international conferences in Netherlands. Geert Wilders is deeply unpopular with the majority of Dutch people, who are easygoing and welcoming of other cultures and faiths. For instance, it is common to find a Catholic and a Protestant church next to each other in a town square. Muslim migration has polarized opinions but it is rare to find discrimination, except in congested urban cities. It would be wrong to judge the Netherlands by the high poll rating of Wilders - which reflects the general anger and division across the USA and Europe that has led to the dramatic Trump and Brexit votes”.

In 2009, Wilders was banned from entering the UK on public security grounds. He was acquitted of discriminating against Muslims in Netherlands in 2011. Latest opinion polls put the PVV in front, on about 24% of the vote. Since the election of Donald Trump in the US, Wilders has pulled ahead of his nearest rival, the Liberals (VVD) led by the prime minister, Mark Rutte.

The Dutch court imposed no fine or prison sentence, ruling that a criminal conviction was sufficient punishment for a politician in Wilders’ position.

Aina Khan commented that:

“Perhaps the Judges were mindful of not making Wilders a ‘martyr’ and increasing his support. However this decision may yet cast a shadow, as the lack of penalty leaves Wilders showing the same arrogance as before. He did not attend court and immediately said that he would appeal. The decision nonetheless highlights a pioneering verdict by Dutch Judges that such campaigns against the vulnerable will simply not be tolerated. It serves as a warning to other extremist parties in advance of elections across Europe in 2017”.

Authors Aina Khan and Jasmin Noryaly are based in the firm's Dalston office. Aina is the head of the Islamic Department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. She has been highly recommended by Legal 500 for her expertise in Family & Child Care.