Statements and speeches by PVV leader Geert Wilders over the past few years have led to an increase in discrimination and violence against Muslims, the MP’s trial in Amsterdam was told on Friday.

Michiel Pestman, representing a number of ethnic minority organisations, told the court Moroccan and other minority groups felt attacked by Wilders. ‘The attitude towards the Moroccan community has become harder due to the defendant’s actions,’ Pestman said.
Mohamed Rabbae, former leader of the left-wing green party GroenLinks, told the court the PVV political manifesto shows Wilders’ eventual aim is to ‘get rid’ of all Muslims.
Islam
Wilders argues that he is against Islam, not Muslims as people, but that is not the case, Rabbae argued. The PVV leader regularly insults Muslims by describing them as backward and calling their prophet a ‘sick paedophile’, Rabbae said.
He pointed out that Wilders opposes Islam because of the way it oppresses women. ‘But Wilders himself works with a Christian party that makes an important issue out of discriminating against women,’ he said, referring to the fundamentalist SGP.
Wilders is accused of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and non-western immigrants. The public prosecution department, which was forced to take the case by the appeal court, says he should be found not guilty.
Wilders’ lawyer Bram Moszkowicz will make his closing statement on Monday.