Geert Wilders' Trial Begins

Today was the first day of Geert Wilders' trial. Read the account at Atlas Shrugs.

Both Atlas Shrugs and Bivouac-Id have this short video with English subtitles:



Atlas Shrugs also offers a longer video (in Dutch, with a translation into English) of Wilders making his opening remarks. He closed his speech with these words:

This trial is obviously about the freedom of speech. But this trial is also about the process of establishing the truth. Are the statements that I have made and the comparisons that I have taken, as cited in the summons, true? If something is true then can it still be punishable? This is why I urge you to not only submit to my request to hear witnesses and experts on the subject of freedom of speech. But I ask you explicitly to honour my request to hear witnesses and experts on the subject of Islam. I refer not only to Mister Jansen and Mister Admiraal, but also to the witness/experts from Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Without these witnesses, I cannot defend myself properly and, in my opinion, this would not be an fair trial.

You can review here the procedures for contacting the Dutch tribunal as part of SITA's international effort to support Geert.

While you are visiting Atlas Shrugs you might be interested in photos of the rally held in front of the UN protesting the murders of Christian Copts in Egypt. It's good to know there are still decent people willing to rally for civilized causes.