Dutch PM frontrunner Geert Wilders sends message of support to 'brave' Nupur Sharma

Wilders, a far-right leader, emerged as the surprise winner of the elections last year.

Nupur Sharma’s controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed triggered widespread protests in 2022, which took a violent turn leading to loss of property and lives.

In a post on X with Nupur Sharma’s image, Wilders said he would like to meet her one day while visiting India.

"I sent a personal message of support to the brave Nupur Sharma, who is threatened by Islamists for years now only for speaking the truth. Freedom loving people all over the world should support her. I hope to meet her one day while visiting India," read his post on X.

Back in 2022 as well, he had expressed his support for Sharma amid a storm over her remarks on Prophet Muhammad.

"Nupur Sharma is a hero who spoke nothing but the truth. The whole world should be proud of her. She deserves the Nobel Prize. And India is a Hindu nation, the Indian government is obliged to strongly defend Hindus against Islamic hate and violence," he had said in a tweet after Nupur Sharma's remarks on a TV debate triggered a row.

Geert Wilders has been endeavouring to form a coalition government in the Netherlands after the electoral success of his nationalist Freedom Party (PVV) last year, despite falling short of a majority by a significant margin.

Since securing victory in November, he has been engaged in coalition talks with the center-right party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the centrist New Social Contract, and the farmers' protest party BBB.

In order to secure the position of Netherlands Prime Minister, the coalition led by Wilders must achieve a minimum of 76 seats in the 150-seat Lower House.