(NL Times) The Court of Appeal in The Hague ruled that populist politician Geert Wilders was rightly found guilty of insulting a race of people during a political rally held on the eve of elections in the Netherlands in 2014, but acquitted the political leader of inciting discrimination and hatred. The court decided that while the comments from the politician were insulting to an entire group of people, his comments at a political rally were for the purpose of political gain and not for the purpose of discriminating against all Moroccans. Other comments made at a market days before were unprepared comments also not aimed at discrediting people of Moroccan heritage, the court ruled.
The court declined to punish Wilders in the case for what it called “unnecessarily offensive” remarks, though prosecutors had demanded a fine of several thousands of euros.
