Dutch prosecutors seek up to 7 years for “sovereigns” planning violent confrontation
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service on Monday demanded prison sentences of one to seven years for eight so-called “sovereigns” accused of crimes including weapons possession and terrorism-related activity, de Volkskrant reported.
The eight, aged 46 to 67, are part of a ten-member group facing trial in Rotterdam’s high-security court. Two others, both in their twenties, previously faced demands for six- and four-year sentences for supplying weapons to the sovereign movement.
Three of the eight were accused of belonging to a terrorist organization and preparing for a “violent confrontation with the Dutch government,” the Public Prosecution Service said. They allegedly possessed firearms and planned “mass arrests.” The other five were charged with participating in a criminal organization, two of whom allegedly founded it.
The Public Prosecution Service said the defendants were deeply committed to the sovereign ideology. One faction, originally called Common Law Nederland Earth (CLNE) and later renamed De Volksraad, operated via Telegram and in-person meetings. Members envisioned “sheriffs” enforcing the law in place of traditional courts.
Flyers and handbooks circulated by the group declared there was no place for “courthouses, judges, lawyers, or prosecutors.” Sheriffs were authorized to arrest and detain “enemies of the republic,” including government officials and mayors. The group also opposed COVID-19 measures and vaccination centers. Some members possessed weapons intended for civilian arrests and removing high-profile targets.
