Geert Wilders, a Dutch anti-Islam and anti-immigrants political leader, was convicted of inciting discrimination in Netherlands and of insulting an ethnic group. Wilders had made derogatory remarks against Moroccans.
"Three PVV hating judges declare that Moroccans are a race and convict me and half of the Netherlands. Madness," he tweeted after the court hearing. He also said that he would be appealing the conviction.
Earlier, he had said, "Whatever the verdict, I will continue to speak the truth about the Moroccan problem, and no judge, politician or terrorist will stop me."
No penalty was levied on the leader of the far-right party, which is leading in polls for Dutch general elections to be held on March 15, 2017. He was acquitted of incitin hate in March 2014 when he said he would ensure that there were fewer Moroccans in the country.
He would not be serving jail-time as well. The judges orders seem like a rap as they said that it was an "extraordinary case" as a politcal leader polarised society. The conviction was punishment enough, they said.
There was a three-week trial after police received 6,400 complaints against Wilders' remarks made during a municipal election campaign in the Hague.
Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) has 10 percent more votes in polls than the ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. Wilders' conviction would do nothing to deter the anti-Islam political leader and would instead give more steam to his campaign for the 2017 elections, according to BBC.
The anti-establishment wave, which toppled even conservative leaders like David Cameron, Matteo Renzi indicate in European nations, could also take place in the Netherlands.
