(Dutch News) The lawyer representing anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders in his appeal against a conviction for racial discrimination has called for the case to be dismissed because of alleged interference by the government of the day.
Geert-Jan Knoops told the high-security court at Schiphol airport on Tuesday that the case against Wilders should be dropped after it transpired that the then-justice minister Ivo Opstelten had discussed the case with senior officials at the public prosecution department.
Broadcaster RTL Nieuws had gone to court to get the documents showing that Opstelten had been involved made public.
Knoops said the documents show there would not have been a formal decision to prosecute Wilders without the discussions between Opstelten and civil servants.
