Fourteen Muslim men went on trial in the Netherlands Monday, accused of plotting the murder of Dutch politicians.
Dutch police arrested the men after the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in November of 2004 by Mohammed Bouyeri.
Bouyeri was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year. He and most of the other defendants are Dutch-born offspring of North African immigrants.
After acquittals in other prominent cases, the trial will be a test for new Dutch laws that supporters say should make it easier to convict extremists.
The first witness, a woman identified as the former wife of one of the accused, refused to speak in court, but a statement she had given to police earlier was read out.
The court is also scheduled to hear testimony Monday from an expert on Islamic fundamentalism.
Some information for thisr eport provided by Reuters and AP.