AMSTERDAM: Prosecutors on Wednesday told judges they were seeking a 12-year sentence for a Pakistani who is being tried in absentia for allegedly inciting people to murder a Dutch far-right leader in 2018.

The 37-year-old suspect, identified in court as Khalid Latif, is charged with incitement to murder, incitement to criminal acts and threatening violence against Geert Wilders.

Wilders is a prominent provocateur whose anti-Islam views are well known. He has lived under constant police protection since 2004. Although he has never been in government, his Freedom Party is the third-largest in Dutch parliament.

Prosecutors said that Mr Latif — a former cricketer — posted a video in 2018, offering an Rs3 million reward for the Dutch politician’s murder. The offer came after Wilders said he planned to hold a contest for caricatures of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

Neither Mr Latif, nor any lawyer were present in the courtroom on Tuesday.

The Pakistani embassy in The Hague had no comment after the hearing and Mr Latif could not be immediately reached for comment.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023