Dutch Prosecution Service demands prison sentences in new cases against Pakistani nationals who publicly called for the murder of Dutch member of Parliament Wilders
People were called upon to hang or behead him. Two men aged 56 and 29 from Pakistan, one a religious leader and the other a political leader, publicly called on their followers over the last few years to murder Dutch member of Parliament Geert Wilders. The Dutch Prosecution Service demanded 14 and 6 years imprisonment against these two suspects in court today.
The 56 year old suspect is a religious leader who is held in regard within Pakistan. He has stated that he wishes Geert Wilders to be hanged someday and issued a fatwa against him. A fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, in this case to murder Wilders.
The 29 year old suspect is the political leader of a political party in Pakistan. Last year, when another Pakistani national was convicted in the Netherlands for issuing a reward for the killing of Geert Wilders, this political leader publically stated that he himself together with other members of public needed to take over this task.
Fatwa
According to the Prosecution Service the 56 year old suspect is guilty of attempted instigation to murder, for which he could receive a prison sentence up to 20 years. The prosecutor stated in court that the suspect repeated his statements multiple times over an extended period of time. The statements were also detailed, indicating that the victim should either be hanged of beheaded. The prosecutor added that fatwa’s keep their legality until they are successfully executed. It is therefore a threat against the victim that keeps its effect indefinitely.
The 29 year old suspect is being prosecuted for incitement of or threatening with a terrorist crime for which he could receive a prison sentence up to 8 years. In a speech he referred to the words of another Pakistani national who was convicted last year.
In absentia
The Dutch Prosecution Service has subpoenaed the suspects through requests for mutual legal assistance which were sent to Pakistan asking for the documents to be served. These requests have not been executed. The suspects did not appear in court and no lawyers have reported for these cases. The Dutch Prosecution Service concludes that it has fulfilled its legal obligation to inform the suspects under both Dutch and International law. The Dutch Prosecution Service will therefor ask the court for a ruling in absentia in both cases.
The Dutch Prosecution Service asked the court for a prison sentence of 14 years for the 56 year old suspect and a prison sentence of 6 years for the 29 year old suspect. The court will give its ruling on 9 September 2024.