#Netherlands: Wilders under investigation after Austrian complaint

8.6.17

I CARE - - News - Internet Centre Anti Racism Europe: 2/6/2017- The Dutch prosecution service is investigating statements on Islam by far-right politician Geert Wilders following an official request from Austria, reports the AD on Friday. Austria has requested that the Dutch government pursue a complaint on comments made by Wilders during a 2015 speech in Vienna, calling Islam an ‘ideology of war and hatred.’ He also said, reports the AD, that: ‘Islam calls people to be terrorists: the Koran leaves no doubt about it.’ A Muslim organisation in Vienna had reported the speech to Austrian police in 2015, sparking an investigation there. Now, spokesperson Nina Bussek reportedly told the AD, they have decided not to pursue the complaint but to ‘transfer it to colleagues in the Netherlands. The OM prosecution service in The Hague has confirmed that it has taken on the case to several newspapers on Friday. Wilders was accused of ‘verhetzung’, a crime similar to rioting and for which several Viennese politicians have received suspended sentences, under stricter Austrian law.