Dutch state taken to UN court of human rights over Wilders

Three Dutch Moroccans have made a complaint against the Netherlands to the UN court of human rights, claiming the Dutch state has not protected them from incitement to hatred instigated by Geert Wilders, Nos television reports.

The three, who are not named in the court filing, say the “systematic incitement to hatred and discrimination against Muslims and other migrants” committed by Wilders has left them feeling “discriminated against, humiliated and threatened”.

“They are of the opinion that Wilders by his continued hate speech has poisoned the social climate in the Netherlands that has become more and more anti-migrant and anti-Muslim,” the statement says.

Wilders was taken to court for discrimination and inciting hatred last year but found not guilty this spring after the public prosecution department called for all charges to be dropped.

The reluctance of the public prosecutor to take action against Wilders meant the “judge [at that trial] was only provided with one-side of the legal argument due to the almost perfect harmony between the prosecution and defence,” the UN court filing states.

The three say international human rights treaties should protect them against discrimination and the UN committee should ensure those treaties are upheld.

A UN human rights commission ruling, which can take years, is not legally binding, Nos says.

The full text of the filing (in English) can be read here.

Dutch News, 17 November 2011