Geert Wilders on trial on hate speech chargesOctober 4, 2010 - 17:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The controversial Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has gone on trial for inciting racial hatred against Muslims. Prosecutors say the offences were committed between October 2006 and March 2008 in various newspapers and on the internet. The 47-year-old risks a year in prison or a fine of 7,600 euros for describing Islam as a force “bent on destroying the West”, likening it to Nazism and calling for a ban on the Koran. Wilders’ 17-minute film Fitna is part of the evidence. Featuring the 2004 murder of director Theo Van Gogh whose film was critical of Islam’s treatment of women, its screening in 2008 prompted protests across most of the Muslim world. The film also calls for a tax on headscarves, and an end to Muslim immigration to the Netherlands, Euronews reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |