Gov´t won't label Antifa as terror organization due to lack of centralized structure

The Dutch government will not designate far-left Antifa as a terrorist organization because it does not meet the legal requirement of a centralized structure under Dutch law, Justice Minister David van Weel said in a letter to the Tweede Kamer.

“None of the competent authorities have information indicating a centralized (terrorist) organization exists, making placement on the national terrorism sanctions list impossible,” Van Weel wrote.

The national counter-terrorism agency NCTV has previously described organized left-wing extremism in the Netherlands as fragmented, small in number, and ideologically diverse. He added that under criminal law, only a court can ultimately determine whether an organization is terrorist in nature.

The statement responds to a request from the Tweede Kamer in September last year to assess whether Antifa could be added to the national terrorism sanctions list.

The request followed a parliamentary motion, supported by a majority including PVV, VVD, BBB, SGP, and JA21, calling for the Netherlands to follow the United States in designating Antifa as a terrorist organization, based on claims “that Antifa cells are also active in our country, threatening politicians, disrupting meetings, intimidating students and journalists, and not shying away from using violence.”

U.S. President Donald Trump cited the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk as a direct reason for the move. Authorities, however, have not found any evidence linking the suspect to Antifa or any other political organization, and the investigation remains ongoing.