Politics · Netherlands · 33 mins ago
Van Weel to question Amsterdam mayor over Hamas support at protest
Justice Minister Van Weel will meet Amsterdam Mayor Halsema about a pro-Palestinian demonstration held on Sunday in the city.
About 1,000 people joined the march, where Hamas flags were displayed and support voiced for the group.
Van Weel said the demonstration crossed a line and may have been intimidating for Jewish residents.
He wants to know why the protest at the National Monument on Dam Square was allowed to continue, despite face coverings and people he described as inciting others.
He wants protest rules applied consistently across the Netherlands, and plans to discuss the issue with other mayors.
Van Weel also urged parliament to quickly consider a proposed law against glorifying terrorism, saying current prosecution often fails when protesters stay just within the legal limits.
A similar protest on Dam Square the previous Wednesday was stopped after some demonstrators disobeyed police instructions about the route.
Van Weel will raise a planned November 8 Gaza demonstration at a cabinet meeting, but did not promise that government ministers would stay away.
Justice Minister Van Weel will speak with Amsterdam Mayor Halsema about a pro-Palestinian demonstration on the Dam where Hamas flags were displayed and support for Hamas was voiced.
Van Weel said the display crossed a line and that the demonstration may have been intimidating for Jewish residents of Amsterdam.
He wants to know why the protest was allowed to continue, citing face coverings and the possibility of removing people he described as inciting.
About 1,000 people gathered for the demonstration on Sunday, according to AD.
Van Weel urged parliament to consider a bill against glorifying terrorism, saying existing law often does not lead to prosecutions.
- Who
- Justice Minister Van Weel and Amsterdam Mayor Halsema. Van Weel plans to discuss the protest with Halsema.
- What
- Van Weel wants to question Halsema about allowing a pro-Palestinian demonstration to continue after Hamas flags were shown and support for Hamas was voiced.
- When
- The demonstration took place on Sunday; Van Weel said on October 13 that he would speak with Halsema.
- Where
- The Dam in Amsterdam.
- Why
- Van Weel wants to know why the demonstration was allowed to continue and said its displays crossed a line.
Van Weel
BBB MP Caroline van der Plas
Handling the protest
Van Weel
Van Weel said he needs a change in the law to address the displays, because prosecutors often do not pursue cases when protesters stay just below the legal threshold.
BBB MP Caroline van der Plas
Van der Plas called Van Weel’s answers weak and said the government should take measures immediately under current law.
About 1,000 people gathered on the Dam for a pro-Palestinian demonstration and then marched through central Amsterdam.
A man was arrested for carrying an offensive banner depicting Adolf Hitler, AD reported.
A similar protest on the Dam was broken up after some demonstrators did not follow police instructions about the route.
Van Weel said he would discuss the Sunday demonstration with Halsema and urged parliament to consider a bill against glorifying terrorism.
A Red Line demonstration against the situation in Gaza is scheduled in Amsterdam.
- Location
- The Dam, Amsterdam
- Crowd size
- About 1,000 demonstrators
- Arrest
- One man was arrested over an offensive banner depicting Adolf Hitler
- Meeting
- Van Weel plans to speak with Mayor Halsema
- Proposed law
- A bill to address glorifying terrorism
- Scheduled demonstration
- Red Line protest in Amsterdam on November 8
What people are saying
Dit ging ver over mijn grens
Ze lachen ons uit
Het is op zich natuurlijk niet verboden om je steun uit te spreken voor de Palestijnse bevolking. Dat onderscheid moet je wel maken.
Het is allemaal slap, slap, slap
Sources
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