Geert Wilders, a popular anti-Islamic politician, went on trial in Amsterdam on Wednesday, charged with inciting hatred against Muslims in a case seen as a test of Dutch tolerance and free speech.
By Bruno Waterfield
Published: 5:52PM GMT 20 Jan 2010
Mr Wilders sparked outrage with his 2008 film "Fitna", which compared Islam to Nazism, and his repeated calls for the Koran to be banned on the same basis as Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.
His Freedom Party is leading the opinion polls in the Netherlands and came second in European elections last June.
"I remain combative and still convinced that this political process will only lead to an acquittal," said Mr Wilders.
"It is surreal that I sit in a courtroom, in a criminal court. I never had any idea this would happen."
Outside the court, dominated on the first day by procedural issues and wrangling, up to 300 protesters chanted slogans such as "Do not silence Geert" and "We are all on trial".
"Our judiciary can't be trusted. They seem not to be in touch with society any more," said one demonstrator. "The Dutch justice system is really making a fool of itself."
Last October, Mr Wilders won an appeal against a government ban preventing him from entering Britain after he was barred and deported a year ago.
He faces a maximum of one year and three months imprisonment if convicted by the Amsterdam court.
From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/7037762/Geert-Wilders-in-Dutch-court-over-anti-Islam-comments.html
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