Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 7:15 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 19:27

Geert Wilders will not continue the case against Özcan Akyol about his statements in VI Today, his lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops informed the General Newspaper. The leader of the PVV was not pleased with some statements by Akyol, which had its very first broadcast on Monday, January 10. The writer cum presenter said that the leader of the PVV wants to deprive people with a Muslim background the right to vote and that the politician deliberately stays on the sidelines in the political spectrum in the Netherlands. Wilders is disappointed with the comments and demanded a correction from Akyol through his lawyer.

“Last night (Monday evening, ed.) during the broadcast of VI Today, where you were a guest, you said about the PVV, in response to a comment by Mr. Derksen, that ‘when the sharp edges have been removed from Mr Wilders, he also has very reasonable things’, the following response given: ‘The problem is, he wants to take away the right to vote from people with a Muslim background. He puts himself out of the game. So he can’t participate? He doesn’t want to participate’. (from minute 16.59), referring to Mr Wilders as party leader.”

“This statement lacks any correct factual basis or basis since the PVV has never expressed or otherwise advanced your claim in any party program or position. However, by making this factually unfounded and untrue statement, you have harmed the name of the PVV and in particular the party leader of the PVV, Mr Wilders, which damage includes damage to the reputation of the PVV.”

“The PVV has only in the past, and in the present, put forward the position that there should be no voting rights for people with dual nationality, regardless of any dual nationality. This has nothing to do with persons ” with a Muslim background’ (see, among other things, the online news article in which the PVV propagates this position entitled ‘Wilders: dual nationality? No more voting’. NOS April 7, 2018″, as Knoops recalled on behalf of Wilders.

“Your statement certainly falls outside the freedom of expression, which you are entitled to as a guest speaker or columnist, because this is not a value judgment but a factual statement on your part that turns out to be clearly incorrect”, Knoops continued his indictment towards akyol. “It follows from case law that there is an unlawful statement if, among other things, at the time of the statement, the allegation is not supported by the facts available at that time and the consequences of such a statement for the person concerned can be serious. your statement is absolutely satisfactory, partly in view of the fact that the public image of the PVV as an important opposition party can be negatively influenced by your wrongful ruling.”

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Özcan Akyol’s statement about Geert Wilders was made in a very well-watched broadcast of VI Today.Read article

“In view of this, you are expressly held liable for the damage that your wrongful statement has caused and will cause and you are requested, and if necessary hereby summoned, to publicly rectify your decision within five days from today, all the more as you made this statement in a program that, we understand, has been very well viewed by the Dutch public with a viewership of about a million people,” Wilders’s lawyer concluded his account, adding that action will be taken if Akyol does not proceed with a rectification.