Muslim groups criticize Wilders鈥� 鈥楳oroccan scum鈥� comments

Associated Press
Supporters of Dutch far-right politician and leader of the Partij Voor De Vrijheid (PVV or Freedom Party) Geert Wilders hold leaflets bearing his image and a slogan which translates as "Make Netherlands ours again", as he officially launches his parliamentary election campaign in Spijkenisse on Saturday. (AFP Photo)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Muslim organizations in the Netherlands have criticized disparaging comments about Moroccans made by anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, but say they are just the latest in a long string of insults.
Launching his campaign Saturday for the Netherlands鈥� March 15 parliamentary election, Wilders criticized what he called 鈥淢oroccan scum鈥� for making the Netherlands unsafe.
Ebubekir Ozture, director of the Muslim umbrella group Contact Organ Muslims and Government, on Sunday called Wilders comments 鈥渞eprehensible,鈥� but added, 鈥淚t is not the first time and probably won鈥檛 be the last time,鈥� that Wilders has used such language.
Wilders was convicted late last year of inciting discrimination and insulting a group for anti-Moroccan comments he made before and after local elections in 2014. He branded the conviction 鈥減olitical.鈥�

-- Associated Press