Netherlands Tries Pakistani Men for Incitement to Kill Wilders
Dutch prosecutors have sought a 14-year sentence for Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali, a religious leader from Pakistan who allegedly issued death threats to Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders....
Facts
- Dutch prosecutors have sought a 14-year sentence for Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali, a religious leader from Pakistan who allegedly issued death threats to Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders.[1]
- Jalali's compatriot Saad Hussain Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan party, has also been accused of inciting his followers to kill Wilders. Both Jalali and Rizvi are Muslim.[2]
- Neither Jalali nor Rizvi appeared for their trial. The two are believed to currently be in Pakistan, a country with which the Netherlands has no extradition treaty.[3]
- Death threats against Wilders began to spread on social media platforms after he announced that he was organizing a cartoon contest to depict the Prophet Mohammed.[4]
- The judge on Monday observed that the eventually canceled contest, which had drawn much criticism in the Netherlands, had 'caused a lot of unrest' among Muslims.[5]
- A Dutch court last September sentenced former Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif to 12 years in prison on similar charges. Similarly to this case, Latif didn't attend his trial.[6]
Sources: [1]Independent, [2]EasternEye, [3]ABC News, [4]Al Jazeera, [5]Timesofisrael and [6]Reuters.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Geert Wilders' right-wing politics, and anti-immigration and anti-Islamic stance, pose a significant threat to Dutch society. His extreme views promote division and intolerance, normalize xenophobia, and undermine democratic institutions. His 'illiberal democracy' concept, which prioritizes the will of native Dutch supporters over established laws, could undermine the rule of law.
- Narrative B, as provided by Spectator (UK). Europe cannot continue to dismiss Wilders' platform as rhetorical intolerance and extremism. His political arguments have clearly resonated with the electorate, and the EU has contributed to his success at the ballot box by failing to take seriously voters' concerns about immigration and security. Even if Wilders' words are distasteful or even intolerant, they've been prompted by instances of violent crime that have struck fear into the Dutch electorate.
