Dutch nationalist politician Geert Wilders [personal website] went on trial in absentia [press release] Monday after being charged with discrimination and inciting hatred due to statements he made on the campaign trial in 2014. Wilders is the leader and founder of the Party for Freedom [party website], and the trial is predicted to have social consequences as Wilders is expected to become a front-runner in the upcoming March elections. However, if convicted, he could face up to a year in prison or a fine of up to €7,400.

Last month UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein unleashed a scathing criticism of Western “demagogues,” including Wilders, accusing them of spreading populist xenophobia and racism. At issue for Zeid was Wilders’ recent 11-point manifesto [JURIST report] laying out plans to remove all mosques in the country. In October 2014 Wilders was summoned for interrogation [JURIST report] on suspicion of making criminally discriminatory statements regarding Moroccans. The Dutch Prosecution Services [official website] stated he was “suspected of insulting a group of people based on race and inciting discrimination and hatred.” In 2011 he was acquitted [JURIST report] of discrimination charges for anti-Islamic comments after the court found that his statements did not constitute hate speech or discrimination. The case against Wilders suffered a number of setbacks. In February 2011 the trial court granted Wilders the right to set out the objections he had made during the initial trial, which was postponed following the dismissal of the original panel of judges [JURIST report] amidst allegations of bias. Prior to their dismissal, the original panel members heard the prosecution’s case, which culminated in a request that Wilders be acquitted on all charges [JURIST report].