Watch Your Tongue, In Europe

For John, BLUF:  This kind of approach is creeping into our own society.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Geert Wilders is convicted of saying unpopular things

This article is from Hot Air and the author is Jazz Shaw.

This article is about Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders, the 53 year old head of the Party for Freedom.  He has recently been on trial for "hate speech".

Here is the lede:

We’re still not finished talking about Brexit, but next slogan to gain international attention may be “Nexit” given what’s going on in the Netherlands these days.  In a very troubling sign, Dutch member of Parliament Geert Wilders was convicted of “hate speech” in court this week.  His crime?  Addressing a rally of his supporters earlier in the year where people were shouting “fewer” when speaking of how many Moroccan immigrants they wanted in the country.

Mr Wilders was convicted.♠  The judges trying him imposed no punishment, deeming the trial punishment enough.♥

Here is the comment by Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds:

TO BE FAIR, EUROPE’S NEVER BEEN BIG ON FREE SPEECH

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  There is, apparently, no First Amendment in the Netherlands.
♥  The other option is that they were afraid of a possible backlash.