Pakistani religious leaders convicted for death threats against Dutch politician

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (CN) — Two Pakistani religious leaders were convicted by judges at The Hague District Court on Monday for making death threats against far-right politician Geert Wilders.

Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali was sentenced to 14 years in prison, and Saad Hussain Rizvi to 4 years, though neither man appeared at the high-security courtroom near Amsterdam.

Pakistan has no extradition treaty to the Netherlands and the pair were tried in absentia.

Jalali was convicted of incitement to murder with a terrorist intent, charged with calling for Wilders to “die” during an online meeting called the “Death to Holland Conference.” Judges found that as a religious leader, his words could have a widespread impact.

“It is therefore plausible that the followers take the call to kill Wilders seriously and can actually follow through,” the ruling says in Dutch. Jalali specified that Wilders should be either hanged or beheaded.

Rizvi, who leads the radical Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, was convicted of incitement to commit murder, but the three-judge panel found that a terrorist motive had not been proven and gave him a lesser sentence.

In a speech, Rizvi called for his followers to take up the mantle of a former Pakistani cricket star who placed a 3 million Pakistani rupee ($10,000) bounty on Wilders’ head. Former Pakistani international cricketer Khalid Latif was convicted by the same court last year, also in absentia, and sentenced to 12 years in jail.

Both Jalali and Rizvi have substantial social media followings.

In 2018, Wilders announced he would hold a contest to draw the Prophet Muhammad, which sparked worldwide outrage. Islam considers physical depictions of the prophoe to be deeply offensive.

In a statement on social media, Wilders defended the contest. “To make or exhibit Muhammad-cartoons is not blasphemy but freedom of speech,” he said.

On social media, Jalali shot back. “I still demand the punishment of [Wilders] for publishing blasphemous cartoons. It’s not my concern if he is afraid and can’t sleep,” Jalali said.

Rizvi, via a statement made by his political party, also rejected the charges against him. “It is not freedom of expression. This is called Islamophobia, which is being done with a plan,” the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan said.

Wilders addressed the court last week. “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,” he said.

Follow @mollyquell