Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders found guilty of discrimination against Moroccans; acquitted of hate speech

Populist right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders was found guilty on Friday of discrimination against Moroccans, but acquitted of hate speech in a closely watched trial ahead of next year's key election.

In their verdict, the judges said "the inflammatory character of the way in which the statements were made have incited others to discriminate people of Moroccan origin."

But they added that there was "insufficient evidence" that his words at an election rally in 2014 amounted to incitement to hatred.

The judges also dismissed the prosecution's request to impose a 5,000 euro fine on the far-right lawmaker, whose Freedom Party (PVV) is eying an upset victory in the March 2017 polls.

"In this case, the most important question is whether Wilders has crossed a line. This judgement has answered that question," the judges said in their verdict.

"Therewith, the chamber finds that justice has been done. Consequently, no punishment is imposed."

Wilders, 53, immediately gave notice that he intended to appeal his conviction, as he believed it was "a big loss for freedom of speech."

The most recent opinion polls predict the PVV will top the vote, saying it could seize 34 seats in the 150-seat lower house of Dutch parliament, some 10 seats ahead of his nearest rival, Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Liberals.

Rather than hurting the controversial lawmaker, observers say his trial has boosted his popularity among Dutch voters, worried about the influx of immigrants and driven by eurosceptic sentiments.

Amid a string of populist victories in Europe and the November election of Donald Trump as the next US president, the outcome of the Dutch vote will be keenly watched.

Wilders even adopted a campaign slogan similar to Trump's: "Make the Netherlands Great Again."

'Fewer Moroccans'

The three-week trial of Wilders had focused in particular on a statement made at a 2014 local government election rally in The Hague, when he asked supporters whether they wanted "fewer or more Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands."

When the crowd shouted back "Fewer! Fewer!" a smiling Wilders answered: "We're going to organize that."

Prosecutors told a three-judge bench they had taken Wilders to court because "racist remarks need to be stopped" after police received 6,400 complaints about his comments.

"Wilders singled out an entire group of citizens without making any distinction," the judges ruled.

"This group has less rights to reside in the Netherlands. Therewith, this statement can be regarded as affecting the dignity of this group as a whole. It is insulting for the entire group."

Throughout their case, prosecutors quoted numerous examples of Dutch-Moroccans who said they felt like "third-rate citizens" and that even "children are afraid" because of the politician's statements.

Wilders boycotted most of the high-profile trial, and refused to appear in court for the verdict.

Just before the judgement was read, he said in a tweet: "Whatever the verdict, I will continue to speak the truth about the Moroccan problem, and no judge, politician or terrorist will stop me."

If elected as the lowlands country's new prime minister, Wilders has vowed to confiscate Korans, close mosques and Islamic schools, shut Dutch borders and ban migrants from Islamic countries among a raft of other anti-Islamic moves.

His views have seen him receive death threats including from terror groups such as the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda. He is guarded at all times and called the "best protected man in The Netherlands."

Political observers say Wilders will benefit either way from the verdict due to the publicity the trial has generated.

The conviction however will mean he has a criminal record which could for example impact travel plans to the United States, popular daily tabloid Algemeen Dagblad said.

By AFP's Jan Hennop at The Hague, Netherlands.