Dutch Muslim groups lodge criminal complaint against far-right leader Wilders

Dutch Muslim groups lodge criminal complaint against far-right leader Wilders
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Fourteen Dutch Muslim organizations have filed a criminal complaint against far-right politician Geert Wilders, accusing him of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims, Daily Sabah reported. The complaint was prompted by a social media post from Wilders, the leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), that the groups say portrayed Muslims as “dangerous and unwanted people.”

The organizations stated that the image in Wilders’ post, which showed a blonde woman symbolizing “good” and a headscarf-wearing woman symbolizing “evil,” was reminiscent of Nazi propaganda used against Jews during World War II.

The complaint was filed by lawyers Adem Çatbaş and Harun Raza. The article notes Wilders’ history of anti-Islam rhetoric, including past calls to ban the Quran and mosques, and his previous conviction for discrimination in 2016 for comments made about Moroccans. His party became the largest in the 2023 Dutch general elections, a development that has raised concerns about the normalization of Islamophobia in the Netherlands.