A new twist in the Amsterdam show trial, after a second attempt to remove the appallingly biased panel of judges succeeds amid accusations of witness interference (hat tip to Vlad):
A court in the Netherlands has ordered a retrial before a new panel of judges in anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders’ hate speech trial.
Wilders called for the judges to be dismissed after a defence witness alleged improper conduct by a member of an appeals panel directly involved in the case.
A hastily convened panel at the Amsterdam District Court ruled that Wilders’ objections were valid. That means the trial which began in January must be repeated from the beginning with new judges.
Wilders faces charges of inciting hatred against Muslims for many remarks, including some equating Islam with fascism and violence, and others calling for a ban on the Koran and a tax on Muslim headscarves.
It has emerged that the improper conduct was in fact one of the Judges, Tom Schalker, allegedly attempting to interfere with one of Wilders’ witness, Islamic Scholar Hans Jensen, at a dinner he was invited to by a leftwing, pro-Palestinian activist friend.
But of course this case isn’t political – certainly not. Details here (h/t Robert at Jihadwatch.)Let’s hope that the new panel realise, as did the prosecution, that the trial should never have happened in the first place – and dismiss this kangaroo court, exonerating Wilders completely, before it even gets a chance to restart.
[Source: UKPA]
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