Dutch Muslim Groups File Hate Speech Complaint Against Geert Wilders

Fourteen Muslim organizations in the Netherlands have filed a joint criminal complaint against far-right politician Geert Wilders, accusing him of inciting hatred, discrimination, violence, and social unrest through a social media post. The post featured a split image depicting a blonde woman as “good” and a headscarf-wearing woman as “bad,” which critics say fuels anti-Muslim sentiment and closely resembles Nazi propaganda used against Jews during World War II. The complaint was filed by lawyers Adem Çatbaş and Harun Raza, highlighting Wilders' long history of anti-Islam rhetoric, including calls to ban the Quran and shut down mosques. The national anti-discrimination hotline reported thousands of public complaints against the tweet, describing it as polarizing, stigmatizing, and discriminatory. Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) remains a significant political force in the Netherlands, raising concerns about the normalization of Islamophobia. The complaint underscores the integral role of Muslims in Dutch society and the groups’ determination to counter hate speech and prevent further social division.