Appeals court reviews 2009 eviction of Amsterdam squatters' stronghold: ‘Police lashed out’
Fifteen years after the 2011 eviction of the Schijnheilig squat in Amsterdam, the Court of Appeal in The Hague is reviewing the cases of five protesters who were previously convicted for their roles in the event. Following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, both the defense and the public prosecutor are now seeking an acquittal, citing the right to peaceful protest.
Fifteen years after the controversial 2011 eviction of the squatter stronghold Schijnheilig on the Passeerdersgracht in Amsterdam, the Court of Appeal in The Hague is revisiting the case of five arrested protesters. The original operation, which resulted in 138 arrests, involved clashes between the police and demonstrators who had barricaded the area. While previous Dutch courts had convicted the protesters for disturbing the peace and ignoring orders to disperse, the European Court of Human Rights later intervened, ruling that the protest was essentially peaceful and protected under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
During the recent hearing, both the defense attorney and the advocate-general requested that all charges against the five be dismissed. The defense argued that the situation only escalated due to the immediate and aggressive deployment of police riot units, while the prosecution acknowledged the need for legal redress as there is no proof of individual violence. The court is expected to deliver its final verdict in two weeks.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
