Muslims Victory for far right puts community on edge

Geert Wilders described it as the "most beautiful day" of his political life. But for many across the Netherlands, news that Wilders' far-right, anti-Islam party had emerged with the most votes in Wednesday's election set off alarm bells over what might lie ahead in a country once regarded as a beacon of tolerance.

- Ashifa Kassam

"These election results are shocking for Dutch Muslims," said Muhsin Köktas of the Contact Body for Muslims and Government.

At the helm of the Party for Freedom (PVV), Wilders has long taken aim at Islam, describing it as a fascist ideology of "a retarded culture" and a "backward religion".

Since 2004, he has been under police protection and in 2016 was convicted of discrimination after he called Moroccans "scum" at a campaign rally.

Though he sought to soften his anti-Islam rhetoric in the lead-up to the elections, the party's manifesto includes a ban on mosques, the Qur'an and Islamic headscarves in government buildings. As his gains became clear on Wednesday evening, Wilders vowed to push policies "within the law and constitution".