Dutch Court Tries Pakistani Men in Absentia for Inciting Assassination of Geert Wilders
Wilders by Peter van der Sluijs.
In a landmark trial, a Dutch court is trying two Pakistani men in absentia for allegedly inciting the assassination of Dutch populist right leader Geert Wilders.
At a Glance
- Two Pakistani men stood trial in absentia in the Netherlands for inciting the murder of Dutch populist right leader Geert Wilders.
- Muhammed Ashraf Jalali, a 56-year-old religious leader, allegedly called on his followers to kill Wilders, promising them rewards in the afterlife.
- Saad Hussain Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, is suspected of urging followers to kill Wilders after Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif’s sentencing.
- Wilders emphasizes the impact of the threats on his family and calls for a strong legal response.
- The trial is held at a high-security courthouse near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
In a high-security courthouse near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, two Pakistani men are being tried in absentia for allegedly calling for the assassination of Dutch populist right politician Geert Wilders. The accused, Muhammed Ashraf Jalali, a 56-year-old religious leader, and Saad Hussain Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, purportedly incited their followers to target Wilders, who has been notorious for his outspoken criticism of Islam.
The trial marks a significant development in holding individuals accountable for issuing assassination fatwas. Jalali reportedly promised his followers rewards in the afterlife for killing Wilders, while Rizvi is suspected of encouraging attacks on Wilders after Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif was sentenced for incitement to murder. Dutch authorities, lacking a mutual legal assistance treaty with Pakistan, have struggled to bring the suspects to the Netherlands for trial.
Prosecutors have demanded a 14-year sentence for Jalali, highlighting the grave nature of the threats.
“This case has had a huge impact on me and my family,” said Wilders, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and maroon tie.
Security and Legal Proceedings
Wilders has been under 24-hour state protection since 2004 due to extensive threats against his life. The court proceedings come in the wake of Wilders’ decision to cancel a controversial cartoon contest of the Prophet Mohammed, which had sparked severe backlash and death threats. A Pakistani man was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2019 for plotting Wilders’ assassination, underscoring the seriousness of such threats.
“Every day you get up and leave for work in armored cars, often with sirens on, and you are always aware somewhere in the back of your mind that this could be your last day,” Wilders told the court.
International Legal Challenges
Dutch authorities requested legal assistance from Islamabad, yet neither suspect appeared in court due to the absence of an extradition agreement between the Netherlands and Pakistan. Despite these obstacles, Wilders expressed hope for the suspects’ eventual extradition, conviction, and imprisonment.
Prosecutors argue that Jalali abused his position as a religious leader to call for violence against Wilders, suggesting that such offenses require severe penalties to deter future threats. Wilders himself has continually defended his actions as a matter of free speech, emphasizing that he has “paid a high price for expressing his opinion,” a reference to the tight security measures governing his daily life.
The world is watching.
