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Netherlands Wilders Threats
Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, takes his seat at the high security court at Schiphol, near Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, to hear the verdict against two Pakistani men on charges of threatening Wilders. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

A Dutch court convicts 2 Pakistani men over death threats to anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders

A Dutch court has convicted two Pakistani men in their absence over calls to their followers to murder anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, the leader of the Party for Freedom that won last year’s general election in the Netherlands

By MIKE CORDER
Published - Sep 09, 2024, 12:16 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 07:27 PM EST

SCHIPHOL, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court convicted two Pakistani religious and political leaders in their absence Monday over calls to their followers to murder anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, the leader of the Party for Freedom that won last year’s general election in the Netherlands.

Wilders has lived under round-the-clock security for nearly 20 years due to the thousands of threats to his life following his outspoken criticism of Islam. His bodyguards and two armed military police sat in the courtroom for Monday's hearing.

Neither of the defendants was in court to hear the verdicts. They are believed to be in Pakistan and are unlikely to be turned over as Pakistan has no extradition agreement with the Netherlands. Prosecutors said last week that requests they sent to Pakistani authorities seeking legal assistance to serve subpoenas on the two men were not executed.

The court found Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali guilty of attempting to provoke murder and incite Wilders' murder with a terrorist intent and of issuing threats. He was sentenced to 14 years, in line with a sentence demand made last week by prosecutors.

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