Wilders Trial Web Site

Wilders On Trial

The court rejected fifteen proposed defense witnesses. They also ruled that the testimony of the three witnesses they allowed will be heard in camera, greatly reducing the potential educational value of the proceeding.

Only Hans Jansen, Simon Admiraal and Wafa Sultan were allowed to be heard as expert-witnesses. Their testimony will be heard in a session behind closed doors. Apparently the truth about Islam must remain a secret.

This information comes from one of two new Geert Wilders web sites, one in Dutch and this one in English for the international audience.
The site includes these features.

• the summons in pdf format
• summary of the proceedings
• Wilders' statement (video)
• links to press coverage

It appears that mainstream media coverage of the trial may be rather light. So far I have not heard anything about it on ABC radio news, BBC's The World or NPR's Morning Edition. The Wilders defense web site may be our best way of keeping up with the progress of the trial.

Radio Netherlands Worldwide had what may be the most important quote.

Reacting to the rulings later, Mr Wilders told journalists outside the courtroom, "This court doesn't seem to be interested in the truth. I can only conclude that the court is not going to let me have a fair trial. I have no respect for this."

In this quote, Wilders restated the obvious. The prosecutor had decided that the charges were not worth holding a trial over before being overruled by a court under pressure.