Hundreds protest on Dam Square, despite emergency decree remaining in effect, dozens of arrests

The demonstration ban in Amsterdam remains in effect. The court in Amsterdam decided this on Sunday. Activist Frank van der Linde had filed a summary proceeding to be allowed to demonstrate, even though an emergency decree has been in effect in the capital since Friday evening. This means that a pro-Palestine protest on Dam Square at 2 p.m. is not allowed to take place. However, hundreds of people have gathered on Dam Square to protest the emergency decree. They chant slogans calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East and carry flags. Dozens of people have been arrested.

The police announced earlier that the demonstration was prohibited and asked the people who had gathered to leave, otherwise, they would be arrested. After their warnings, the officers present formed a line. As a result, the protesting people were driven back with shields towards the Nieuwe Kerk.

Of the hundreds of people who had come to Dam Square despite the ban, many did obey the order to leave. Others remained standing and shouted slogans at the police, who also filmed them en masse.

The emergency decree, which includes a ban on demonstrations and a ban on wearing face-covering clothing, went into effect at 7 p.m. on Friday and will remain in effect until 7 a.m. on Monday. The measure was introduced in response to the violence against supporters of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv last Thursday evening and night. Five people were hospitalized, and 30 others suffered minor injuries, police said.

Even though the emergency decree expires Monday morning, Van der Linde says he finds it important enough to take action against it now. It is a matter of principle, he says.

According to Van der Linde, the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans who were in the Dutch capital for the match against Ajax are also known in Israel for their far-reaching racist expressions. According to Van der Linde, they also expressed that "grubby, racist crap" in Amsterdam. They are also said to have attacked people and harassed taxi drivers.

“That's when the fuses blew, you can also disapprove of that,” said Van der Linde. “But that's the order.” He wants to talk about “Arab hatred” because that is not what the authorities are talking about, he said. Van der Linde agrees that there have been anti-Semitic incidents, but to call this a pogrom is, in his opinion, “too bizarre for words”.

The judge did not accept his objections, partly because the police indicated that there had been further incidents during the night from Saturday to Sunday and that the demonstration could lead to a new escalation. He also pointed out that the emergency decree is in effect until Monday morning and that it is expected that demonstrations will be allowed again after that.