“At the moment we can do virtually nothing,” explains outgoing minister David van Weel (Justice and Security) the need for the bill to De Telegraaf. “There must now be hatred or incitement to actually prosecute someone. We must set a standard.”
The law provides for two new penal provisions: the glorification of terrorist crimes on which life imprisonment is sentenced and to express support to terrorist organizations in public. For both offenses, a prison sentence of a maximum of three years can be imposed with this law. These are organizations on the Dutch or European terrorist list.
Flags Hamas punishable
Showing symbols of forbidden terrorist organizations, such as flags, logos or certain slogans, is also punishable under this new law. For example, there was a Gaza demonstration in Rotterdam at the end of April in which some participants with flags of IS or Al-Qaida waved. Ignorance is not an excuse, says Van Weel. “I’m pretty sure that those people really know what such flags stand for.”
According to the VVD member, the proposal does not limit freedom of expression. It is explicitly not about criticism or activism, Van Weel emphasizes, but about ‘prizes’ or ‘praise’ of violence. “Only then is it punishable. If you do that, that does not add anything to the public debate. It has a poisonous effect on the social climate.”
In 2005, then justice minister Piet Hein Donner (CDA) already wrote a similar law. After many doubts about, among other things, the legal necessity and proportionality, he eventually withdrew this proposal. Now that other countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Spain already have similar legislation, Van Weel is making a new attempt.
Security services see extremist propaganda online
Due to the rise of social media, this is necessary, the VVD member is based on recent reports from the security services. Both the AIVD and the NCTV signaled an increasing threat of jihadist and right-wing extremist ideas in their recent reports. Jihadist or extremist propaganda is quickly distributed via the internet according to these security services.
At the same time, the intelligence services also see a worrying rise of extreme right -wing groups. Attacks are glorified in online channels and violent content shared. Organizations such as The Base, which have been on the European terrorism list since 2024, are gaining ground in the Netherlands according to the intelligence services.
“As soon as images or texts are spread, there is no more brakes on,” Van Weel argues for the ‘necessary’ amendment. “Because of the influence on social media and the hardening of the climate, we see more and more expressions of terrorist acts such as Van Hamas of 7 October.”