Dutch cartoonist arrested, prosecuted for inciting hatred against muslims

Dutch cartoonist "Gregorius Nekschot" has been arrested for inciting hatred - see here and here for an English language report. A criminal complaint for inciting hatred was filed against him three years ago; apparently he has been arrested only now because police had trouble ascertaining his identity and finding him. Which is odd because he was interviewed for Danish TV a few months ago... The charge is - apparently - insulting and inciting hatred against muslims.

Some of the cartoons have been republished by De Volkskrant, one of the main national daily newspapers, and they can also be found on Nekschot's own website. Nekschot was a smalltime cause celebre in the Netherlands, defending cartoonists' rights to go to the limit and championed by people such as Theo van Gogh. I can see how people might be offended by his work but inciting hatred? No. And to cause offence is an entirely legitimate activity, protected under the Dutch constitution as well as under international law. The prosecutor's office is erring gravely here; in view of what happened to Van Gogh, they should be protecting this man, not prosecuting him.