Former top Pakistani cricketer faces 12 years sentence threat for hurling death threats to Dutch Welders
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Dutch prosecutors have requested a 12-year prison term on Tuesday for a former Pakistani cricketer who stands accused of incitement to commit murder against the outspoken anti-Islam legislator, Geert Wilders. The individual in question, known as Khalid Latif and identified by Wilders, allegedly offered a reward of approximately 21,000 euros ($23,000) to anyone willing to assassinate Wilders. Despite the charges, Latif was conspicuously absent from the trial held in a high-security courtroom near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. It is believed that he currently resides in Pakistan.
Although the prosecution refrained from directly naming Latif, their statement indicated that a video, uploaded online in 2018, featured a prominent Pakistani cricket player offering a financial incentive for the murder of Wilders. The legislator has been under continuous protection due to persistent threats on his life, a consequence of his vehement critiques of Islam. The catalyst for the threats was Wilders' announcement of an intention to host a competition featuring cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. This announcement stirred strong objections in the Muslim world, as many view portrayals of the Prophet as blasphemous. Ultimately, the planned cartoon contest was cancelled, but the controversy it generated remained.
The Public Prosecution Service in The Hague highlighted the video's malevolent impact, noting that it emerged during a period marked by heightened animosity and resentment towards Geert Wilders. The prosecution office further emphasized that a potential attack on Wilders would not only cause immense suffering to his loved ones but also constitute an assault on the fundamental principles of the rule of law itself. The trial unfolds against the backdrop of the ongoing tension between the right to free expression and the sensitivities surrounding religious beliefs, raising significant questions about the delicate balance between these competing values
