Dutch politician Geert Wilders takes aim at Moroccans and sparks outrage

Outspoken Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders faced an unprecedented storm of protest on the 20 March 2014 after he told supporters he would ensure there were 'fewer Moroccans' in the country.

The Dutch Moroccan Alliance (SMN) said he had crossed a legal boundary by targeting a specific group of people.

Prime minister and VVD leader Mark Rutte said on the 20 March 2014 that his party would not work with Geert Wilders in any form so long as he does not retract the anti-Moroccan comments.

In October 2014 public prosecutors in the Netherlands 'invited' Geert Wilders for questioning in connection with the remarks.

The decision to question Wilders did not necessarily mean a criminal prosecution would follow but it ‘stands to reason’ that will happen, the public prosectutor department’s statement said.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 20.03.14: Dutch politician Wilders accused of discrimination http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26667788

De Volkskrant, 21.03.14: Tolerance allows Wilders' hate speeches (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE140491-Tolerance-allows-Wilders-hate-speeches

DutchNews.nl, 21.03.14: Prime minister rules out working with PVV after Moroccan chants http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/03/prime_minister_rules_out_worki.php

DutchNews.nl, 20.03.14: Wilders under fire over Moroccan chanting, 40,000 like Facebook page http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/03/wilders_under_fire_over_morocc.php

ESO: Background information: EU slams Dutch website for instigating intolerance http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-slams-dutch-website-for-instigating-intolerance/

ESO: Background information: Wilders report: Dutch families would be €10,000 better off out of EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/wilders-report-dutch-families-would-be-e10000-better-off-out-of-eu/

EUObserver, 24.03.14: Dutch extremists in disarray after anti-Moroccan chant http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123589

EurActiv, 24.03.14: Wilders’ election strategy in shambles after racist remarks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/wilders-election-strategy-shambles-after-racist-remarks-301109

Blog: Charlemagne, 20.03.14: The Dutch far-right. A step too far? http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2014/03/dutch-far-right

De Volkskrant, 31.03.14: Dutch turn against Moroccans (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE141015-Dutch-turn-against-Moroccans

DutchNews.nl, 30.03.14: Police undecided if jewellers armed robbery deaths were self-defence http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/03/police_undecided_if_jewellers.php

Social Europe Journal, 31.03.14: Electoral Bloodbath For Dutch Labour http://www.social-europe.eu/2014/03/dutch-labour/

EUObserver, 20.05.14: Netherlands' Geert Wilders cuts up EU flag http://euobserver.com/news/124199

De Volkskrant, 10.10.14: Trial needlessly puts Wilders in limelight (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE151757-Trial-needlessly-puts-Wilders-in-limelight

DutchNews.nl, 09.10.14: Geert Wilders is a formal 'suspect' for anti-Moroccan chants http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/10/geert_wilders_faces_formal_que.php

---