A court in The Hague has sentenced two Pakistani citizens to prison for issuing violent threats against Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders.
Breitbart reported that Imam Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali and Saad Hussain Rizvi were found guilty of inciting violence and terrorism in connection with fatwas and death threats directed at Wilders. While the court’s ruling is clear, it remains uncertain if the men will serve their sentences, as both are currently residing in Pakistan.
The sentencing of the two men marks a significant moment in the Netherlands’ fight against threats to public officials.
Jalali, aged 56, received a 14-year sentence after issuing a fatwa against Wilders in response to a series of cartoon contests that depicted caricatures of the prophet Mohammed.
The fatwa was found to have been issued with the intent to incite violence and reach a global audience. Rizvi, a 29-year-old leader of the radical Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party, was sentenced to four years for his part in making death threats against Wilders, although his charges were partially acquitted due to insufficient evidence of terrorist intent.
Geert Wilders, the leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), has been a consistent voice in Dutch politics for years, advocating for policies that oppose radical Islam.
This stance has made him the target of numerous death threats, particularly from Islamist groups angered by his positions. Jalali's fatwa was a direct reaction to Wilders’ push for cartoon contests in the Netherlands featuring images of the prophet Mohammed, a highly sensitive subject in the Muslim world.
Jalali’s fatwa, issued in English, was designed to garner international attention and support for violent actions against the politician. The court’s decision to impose a lengthy sentence highlights the severity of the threat and sends a message against the use of religious decrees to incite violence.
Wilders has expressed his satisfaction with the ruling, describing it as a “pure win” for freedom of speech and democracy.
Saad Hussain Rizvi, a prominent figure in Pakistan’s TLP, received a lighter sentence compared to Jalali. Rizvi’s four-year sentence followed a charge of issuing death threats but without clear evidence that his actions were intended to support terrorism.
The prosecution originally sought a six-year sentence for Rizvi but was unable to prove that his threats constituted a terrorist act. Rizvi’s partial acquittal underscores the challenges that legal systems face in differentiating between politically motivated threats and acts of terrorism.
Despite the differences in sentencing, both men remain in Pakistan, and the lack of an extradition treaty with the Netherlands has raised questions about whether they will face justice. Wilders has publicly called for international arrest warrants for both men, urging governments around the world to ensure that those who issue death threats against elected officials are held accountable.
Following the sentencing, Wilders emphasized the importance of the court’s decision as a global signal against issuing violent threats toward politicians. “This decision is an important signal, also internationally, that pronouncing a fatwa on a parliamentarian does not go unpunished,” Wilders said, urging the Dutch government to take further steps to ensure the sentences are enforced.
Wilders has been living under constant threat for nearly two decades. He and his wife have been forced to live in safe houses under 24-hour security due to repeated death threats from Islamist extremists.
Wilders has become one of the most high-profile European politicians to face violent opposition, often requiring heavy security measures wherever he goes.
This is not the first time Islamist figures have been convicted over threats made against Wilders. In the past, other Pakistanis have been sentenced for plotting violence against the Dutch politician.
In one notable case, Pakistani national Junaid Iqbal was sentenced to ten years in prison for planning a terrorist attack on Wilders. Similarly, former Pakistani cricket captain Khalid Latif was sentenced in 2023 to 12 years for placing a bounty on Wilders’ head. However, like Jalali and Rizvi, Latif remains in Pakistan and has yet to serve his sentence.
While the court’s ruling marks a victory for Wilders and those who support free speech, the lack of an extradition treaty with Pakistan complicates the practical enforcement of the sentences.
Wilders continues to call for international cooperation to bring the men to justice, arguing that allowing such threats to go unpunished sets a dangerous precedent for democracy.
Despite the legal hurdles, the sentencing sends a clear message against using religious or political platforms to incite violence, reinforcing the importance of protecting elected officials from threats to their safety.
