It’s a great relief to see that the government attack on Dutch politician Geert Wilders has failed with a Not Guilty verdict in the case against him for telling the truth about Islam. Still, it remains shocking that the prosecution of free speech took place at all.

He got in trouble for producing a brief documentary, Fitna [Watch], that illustrates various hostile verses of the Koran, plus telling the truth about the daily murders committed in the name of Islam and its disapproval of Western freedoms.

As a measure of his integrity, Wilders calls for an end to Muslim immigration because our cultures are not compatible.

Wilders not guilty on all counts, Dutch News, October 15, 2010

The public prosecution department on Friday afternoon stated that Geert Wilders is not guilty of discriminating against Muslims. Earlier on Friday it announced he should also be found not guilty of inciting hatred.

Prosecutors Birgit van Roessel and Paul Velleman reached their conclusions after a careful reading of interviews with and articles by the anti-Islam politician and a viewing of his anti-Koran film Fitna.

They said comments about banning the Koran can be discriminatory, but because Wilders wants to pursue a ban on democratic lines, there is no question of incitement to discrimination ‘as laid down in law’.

On the comparison of the Koran with Mein Kampf, the prosecutors said the comparison was ‘crude but that did not make it punishable’.

Dealing earlier on Friday with incitement to hatred, Van Roessel and Velleman said some comments could incite hatred against Muslims if taken out of context, but if the complete text is considered, it can be seen that Wilders is against the growing influence of Islam and not against Muslims per se.

On Tuesday, the prosecutors said the MP should not be found guilty of group insult.

The public prosecution department was forced to take the case by the high court after anti-racism campaigners protested at its refusal to prosecute Wilders.

Nobody is more relieved with the results than Wilders himself.

Wilders ‘very happy’ with court decision

Geert Wilders proclaimed himself ‘very happy’ with the public prosecution department’s announcement on Friday afternoon that he should be found not guilty on all charges of inciting hatred and discrimination.

The anti-Islam MP told reporters: ‘I don’t insult, I don’t incite to hate and I don’t discriminate. The only thing I do and will continue doing is speak the truth.’

Enough of Geert Wilders being on trial for free speech!