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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Dutch divided over law against insulting the king | Dutch divided over law against insulting the king |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Government in the Netherlands split over attempts to scrap its lèse-majesté law | Government in the Netherlands split over attempts to scrap its lèse-majesté law |
| Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Daniel Boffey in Brussels |
| Mon 5 Feb 2018 11.05 GMT | Mon 5 Feb 2018 11.05 GMT |
| Last modified on Mon 5 Feb 2018 13.48 GMT | |
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| It may be one of Europe’s most liberal states, but in the Netherlands reverence for the monarchy appears hard to kick. | It may be one of Europe’s most liberal states, but in the Netherlands reverence for the monarchy appears hard to kick. |
| A divide has emerged in the Dutch coalition government over an attempt by one of the ruling parties to scrap a law that makes insulting King Willem-Alexander a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. | A divide has emerged in the Dutch coalition government over an attempt by one of the ruling parties to scrap a law that makes insulting King Willem-Alexander a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. |
| The Netherlands is one of the few European countries to retain a law of lèse-majesté, from the Latin laesa maiestatis, meaning injury to the majesty. The last case in the Netherlands was brought in 2016. | The Netherlands is one of the few European countries to retain a law of lèse-majesté, from the Latin laesa maiestatis, meaning injury to the majesty. The last case in the Netherlands was brought in 2016. |
| The Dutch house of representatives is due to debate the issue this week, but differences within the governing coalition have already become evident. | The Dutch house of representatives is due to debate the issue this week, but differences within the governing coalition have already become evident. |
| While the Greens, socialists and Labour party are backing the initiative by the liberals in the D66 party, they are facing opposition from the Christian parties in government – the CDA and the more conservative Christian Union. | While the Greens, socialists and Labour party are backing the initiative by the liberals in the D66 party, they are facing opposition from the Christian parties in government – the CDA and the more conservative Christian Union. |
| Chris van Dam, an MP in the CDA, told the Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf: “We are talking about the king, our king who cannot defend himself in the public debate.” | Chris van Dam, an MP in the CDA, told the Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf: “We are talking about the king, our king who cannot defend himself in the public debate.” |
| Under the proposals from D66, Willem-Alexander would still be protected by laws designed to stop speech liable to incite discrimination or hatred. | Under the proposals from D66, Willem-Alexander would still be protected by laws designed to stop speech liable to incite discrimination or hatred. |
| While sympathetic to the change, the centre-right liberal party, the VVD, led by the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, has said it would not support a law that would force the king to file a formal complaint to get justice. | While sympathetic to the change, the centre-right liberal party, the VVD, led by the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, has said it would not support a law that would force the king to file a formal complaint to get justice. |
| Sven Koopmans, an MP, said: “If the king himself has to file a report, we are not there for it ... The king should not have to go to the police station on his bike for a declaration.” | Sven Koopmans, an MP, said: “If the king himself has to file a report, we are not there for it ... The king should not have to go to the police station on his bike for a declaration.” |
| It has been suggested the parties are intending to use the issue to distinguish themselves before municipal elections in March. | It has been suggested the parties are intending to use the issue to distinguish themselves before municipal elections in March. |
| Two years ago, a 44-year-old man was sentenced to 30 days in prison having “intentionally insulted” the monarch on Facebook, accusing him of being a murderer, thief and rapist. | Two years ago, a 44-year-old man was sentenced to 30 days in prison having “intentionally insulted” the monarch on Facebook, accusing him of being a murderer, thief and rapist. |
| He doctored images of executions online to include the king’s face in place of those of the actual victims. | He doctored images of executions online to include the king’s face in place of those of the actual victims. |
| A court in Overijssel, an eastern provence bordering Germany, had said in a statement: “This behaviour is unacceptable in our society and demands that a penalty be imposed on the suspect.” | A court in Overijssel, an eastern provence bordering Germany, had said in a statement: “This behaviour is unacceptable in our society and demands that a penalty be imposed on the suspect.” |
| In 2014, prosecutors also charged an activist who had shouted obscene slogans about the royal family during a protest, only to reverse their decision after the move was condemned as an attack on free speech. | In 2014, prosecutors also charged an activist who had shouted obscene slogans about the royal family during a protest, only to reverse their decision after the move was condemned as an attack on free speech. |
| The proposed changes would also abolish a law that prohibits anyone insulting the head of a friendly state. There has been more support for this move after Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sought the prosecution of a German comedian over a satirical poem. The offence carries a sentence of up to two years in a Dutch prison. | The proposed changes would also abolish a law that prohibits anyone insulting the head of a friendly state. There has been more support for this move after Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sought the prosecution of a German comedian over a satirical poem. The offence carries a sentence of up to two years in a Dutch prison. |
| Netherlands | Netherlands |
| Europe | Europe |
| news | news |
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