Up to Two Years in Prison for Publicly Supporting Terrorism on Bonaire, Statia and Saba

KRALENDIJK – The Dutch cabinet wants to criminalise the glorification of terrorism and public support for terrorist organisations on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The Dutch Council of Ministers has approved a bill that amends the BES Criminal Code and the BES Code of Criminal Procedure accordingly.

The proposal targets three forms of public expression. These are: the extensive glorification of terrorist offences carrying a life sentence, the distribution of material glorifying such offences, and the public expression of support for terrorist organisations.

Under the proposal, glorifying terrorism and publicly supporting a terrorist organisation may result in a maximum prison sentence of two years or a fine. Distributing glorifying material carries a maximum prison sentence of one year or a fine.

The government aims to use the new provisions to act against propaganda and expressions that glorify terrorist violence or lend support to organisations designated as terrorist. The amendment applies not only to the European Netherlands, but also to the public bodies of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.

The Council of Ministers approved the bill on 19 June. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel will now submit the proposal, along with its explanatory memorandum and the advisory opinion of the Council of State, to the House of Representatives.

The law is not yet in force. The House of Representatives and the Senate must first review and adopt the proposal.