Two men sentenced to jail for defacing a mosque in Heerlen

The police court in Maastricht sentenced two men to jail for the destruction of a mosque and a nearby Islamic shop in Heerlen. The 29-year-old suspect, Mitchel van den B. from Heerlen, will serve an eight-week sentence. His 39-year-old co-defendant, Bas K., who has no place of residence, will serve six weeks. The court ruled this week it was proven that both men tried to portray Muslims in a bad light.

The two suspects broke the window of the Nour Mosque on Kempkensweg, and wrote racist lines on the door, like "Fuck Allah" and "Fuck Islam" during the overnight period between February 5 and 6. Swastikas were also drawn on the mosque. “Discrimination,” the court said. “This is a shock to society.”

They were accused on suspicion of public violence, discrimination, and group insult. Prosecutors had recommended jail sentences of ten weeks, with two weeks conditionally suspended, against K. A sentence of three months with one conditional was recommended for Van den B.

The two suspects were not present at the hearing. Lawyer Arthur Vonken did not know where his client, K., was staying and was not authorized to speak on his behalf. Theo Boumans, the other suspect's lawyer, could also not explain why Van den B. did not appear. “My client has a different lifestyle than you and me,” Boumans added.

Van Den B. had said during the police interviews that he “did not recognize his country anymore, only Muslims, only headscarves.”

Suspect Van den B. also allegedly stole all the bread crates from a nearby bakery on February 5. According to the Public Prosecution Service, it was an Islamic shop from which he stole. The court did not find evidence to support this claim. They did find evidence of group insult. The suspects also must pay compensation for the destruction, and for stealing bread.

Both suspects have previously come into contact with law enforcement. They have been accused of theft, threats, and assault.