Domestic
Willem Engel's Conviction Final, 60-Hour Community Service for Incitement Upheld
The Dutch Supreme Court has upheld the final conviction of Willem Engel, leader of the activist group Viruswaarheid, imposing a definitive 60-hour community service sentence for incitement during the coronavirus pandemic. The ruling confirms that Engel violated public order by urging participation in a banned demonstration at Malieveld in The Hague and encouraging people to ignore health measures via social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Arrested in March 2022 following complaints from over 22,000 individuals, Engel was initially sentenced in January 2023 to a conditional prison term but was acquitted on other charges including fraud and terrorism-related expressions. Although the Public Prosecution Service sought harsher penalties, the appellate court in March 2023 limited the conviction to incitement only. Engel left the Netherlands in 2024 with plans to emigrate to Paraguay, while his foundation Voor Waarheid remains active.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's