Dutch court convicts party leader of incitement

ISTANBUL (AA) – The leader of a Dutch party known for his anti-Islam rhetoric was convicted on Friday on charges of incitement after comments he made about Moroccan people.

Geert Wilders, founder and head of the Freedom Party (PVV), made the comments in a 2014 post-election speech. A panel of three judges in Scheveningen ruled the remarks were insulting and targeted at a specific ethnic group.

Wilders described the result as “madness” and claimed the judges hated his party. In a statement, he said he would appeal the decision.

Despite the conviction Wilders will not receive a fine or a jail sentence.

The Netherlands will hold a general election in three months’ time, with the PVV in contention and immigration remaining a hot topic in the EU country.

In December last year, Wilders posted an online video in which he directly addressed Turkish people, claiming an “Islamic state” such as Turkey would never become a member of the EU.

He also said values such as democracy, freedom and human rights were “incompatible” with Islam.