Dutch Covid denier Willem Engel arrested for sedition

The police arrested Willem Engel in Rotterdam on Wednesday for incitement, lawyer Jeroen Pols confirmed on Twitter. The 45-year-old is suspected of posting seditionist coronavirus-related statements on social media over an extended period, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said. He will be arraigned on Friday.

Inciting people to commit a criminal offense or violent acts against public officials is illegal in the Netherlands, and punishable by up to five years in prison. Distribution of such messages, including in a speech, is punishable by a maximum of three years behind bars. In either case, the Dutch criminal code makes also allows courts to increase prison sentences by a third if the crime is considered a terrorist act.

Pols represents Viruswaarheid, a Covid-denying action group founded by Engel. "The Rutte regime is fully attacking critics and opposition," Pols tweeted. "Meanwhile, they have a big mouth about democracy in Russia."

https://nltimes.nl/2022/03/16/dutch-covid-denier-willem-engel-arrested-sedition