[JURIST] The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) [official website, in Dutch] on Thursday summoned for interrogation [press release, in Dutch] far-right politician Geert Wilders [party website] on suspicion of making criminally discriminatory statements regarding Moroccans. According to OM he “is suspected of insulting a group of people based on race and inciting discrimination and hatred.” If convicted, he could face [Reuters report] up to a year in prison or a fine of up to €7,400 (USD $9,400). Wilders has campaigned on an anti-immigration, anti-Muslim position, as a member of the Freedom Party [party website]. The OM received ore than 6,400 complaints regarding remarks made by Wilders at campaign rally in March in The Hague where he called for “fewer Moroccans.” In a video statement released Thursday, WIlders condemned the OM’s allegations against him.

This is not the first time Wilders has faced legal action for discriminatory speech. The remarks which led to the OM’s investigation have caused a backlash from the public, resulting in Wilders’ loss of his top position [JURIST report] in the country’s opinion polls and the resignation of several well-known party members in protest. 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].