Bill would criminalise glorifying terrorism and backing terror groups

Justice and Security Minister D.M. van Weel says the cabinet wants to be able to prosecute people who openly glorify terrorism. In a letter to parliament dated 9 November, he answered written questions from MPs Van den Brink and Straatman of the CDA, submitted on 18 September after a "Hup Hamas" banner appeared at a climate march.

The minister says a bill is already before the Tweede Kamer. It creates separate offences for openly glorifying terrorist crimes that carry a life sentence, for distributing glorifying writings or images, and for publicly expressing support for terrorist organisations.

The bill extends existing criminal law to statements that no current provision covers, the minister writes. Such statements could then be prosecuted under the conditions set out in the bill.

Openly glorifying terrorism and openly expressing support for terrorist organisations is completely unacceptable.Justice Minister D.M. van Weel

Van Weel says such statements run against the values of the democratic rule of law. They can help normalise terrorist ideas and their spread, he writes, and can promote radicalisation.

MPs have given written input on the bill. The minister is processing it into the nota naar aanleiding van het verslag, the government's written reply, and aims to send it before the end of the year. The parliamentary debate on the bill can follow after that.