Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Anti-Islam lawmaker's trial on hate speech charges to continue; move to dismiss judges fails

AMSTERDAM — Appeals judges in a hate speech case against anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert Wilders have rejected a defence motion for trial judges to be dismissed because of alleged bias.

Wilders, leader of the country's third-largest political party, is charged with inciting hatred against Muslims with remarks branding Islam as violent by nature.

His lawyers had argued judges were biased after they declined to press perjury charges against a witness whose testimony contradicted earlier public statements.

An appeals panel said Monday the lower court's ruling was not cause for dismissal.
The trial will now go ahead as planned. Trial judges will set a date for the case to continue.


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