Geert Wilders: Dutch far-right leader convicted in hate speech trial
Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has hit out at judges and said he will "never be silenced" despite facing no punishment after being convicted of insulting Moroccans and inciting discrimination.
Wilders, who is leading in some polls before national elections in March, called the verdict "totally insane" on Twitter and accused the court of bias in a videotaped response.
A three-judge panel rejected the request from prosecutors for the far-right leader to be fined 5,000 euros over charges relating to a 2014 campaign rally.
After leading his supporters in a chant calling for "Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!" Moroccans in the Netherlands, a smiling Wilders told them: "we're going to take care of that."
Announcing the verdict, Presiding Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said Wilders had planned the inflammatory remarks beforehand.
He said Wilders had incited others to discriminate against the roughly 400,000 people of Moroccan origin living in the country.
"This statement can be regarded as affecting the dignity of this group as a whole. It is insulting for the entire group," the ruling said.
Judge Steenhuis added that "no one is above the law", including politicians.
"If a politician crosses the line, that doesn't mean free speech is being restricted," he said. "A crime cannot be protected by the right to free speech."
Wilders said the ruling was an attempt to "neutralise the leader of the largest and most popular opposition party in the Netherlands" in the run up to the March 15 election.
He later said he plans an appeal, which is expected to run alongside the six-week election campaign.
During his court appearance last month, Wilders had told judges his remarks were not advocating violence but referred to his official party policies.
These include a ban on immigration, expelling Moroccans with dual nationality who commit crimes and "voluntary repatriations".
In 2011 Wilders was acquitted of anti-Islam remarks, including likening the religion to Nazism and calling for a ban on the Koran.
Many saw the verdict as strengthening his reputation as a defender of freedom of speech and increasing his popularity.