Amsterdam: Judges in the Netherlands have ruled that an anti-Islam lawmaker's hate speech case can continue, rejecting claims by his lawyer that the court trying him was not impartial.
Geert Wilders is on trial on charges of "making statements insulting to Muslims as a group," and inciting hatred against Muslims.
Wilders, whose Freedom Party is one of this country's most popular political parties, argues that his remarks comparing Islam with Nazism and calling for a ban on the Quran, though offensive to many Muslims, are part of legitimate public debate.
A panel of judges ruled Monday that the Amsterdam court trying him was impartial and his trial can continue.
Wilders showed no emotion as the decision was read.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, May 23, 2011, 14:04