Via the Canadian Press:
AMSTERDAM — Populist politician Geert Wilders' negative views of Islam — he has called it "retarded" and "inherently violent" — are his opinions, not irrefutable facts, Dutch prosecutors argued Tuesday at his criminal trial for inciting hatred.Hopefully, this will become a moment similar to what happened in the Supreme Court case known as Citizens United vs. FEC. That trial was about campaign finance and whether corporate dollars could be used to produce political films either for or against candidates. There was a moment of clarity in which the argument of the FEC came down to an advocacy for banning books.
Wilders has argued that his views of Islam are supported by expert and academic analysis, and speaking the truth cannot be a crime. He says the charges against him are an attack on the freedom of speech.
But at the second hearing of his closely watched trial, prosecutors countered that there is no general agreement about the nature of Islam, and Wilders' statements are opinions that cross the legal threshold.
It was an eye-opener and hopefully a man being told he cannot argue his case based on truth and facts is another one.
h/t to Jihad Watch
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