No extra punishment for plank assault at UvA protest, perpetrator must pay damages

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator has been ordered to pay compensation totaling 2,135 euros after striking two counter-protesters with a plank during a 2024 protest at the University of Amsterdam. The court convicted the man of attempted aggravated assault but opted not to impose additional jail time or community service, noting that the defendant had already served 36 days in pre-trial detention. The judge emphasized that the violence, which occurred in a public space, contributed to broader feelings of societal unrest and insecurity.

The victims reported ongoing physical and psychological distress, including fatigue and trauma-related stress triggered by symbols of the protest movement. During the trial, the defendant, a Jordanian asylum seeker and activist, claimed his actions were defensive against counter-protesters carrying torches. However, the court rejected this justification. The defendant has previous convictions, including property damage at the university, though he maintains his innocence regarding those charges and claims his past violence was motivated by a desire to protect others from discrimination.