Prison, community service for violence at pro-Palestine protests at Amsterdam university
On Monday, the court in Amsterdam convicted two protesters of public violence during pro-Palestine protests at the University of Amsterdam last year. Simone Z. was sentenced to two months in prison for throwing and hitting police officers with sticks. Joaquin L. was sentenced to 60 hours of community service for throwing a bottle and food at cops. The third suspect, Peike S. was acquitted, AT5 reported.
All three incidents happened on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, when the police cleared protesters from the Binnengasthuisterrein after they had occupied the university terrain for over 24 hours.
Simone Z., two months in prison
According to the prosecutor, 24-year-old Simone Z. hit officers with a stick, sprayed a red liquid on them, and threw another long stick - called a spear by the prosecutor - at a riot police officer. She then climbed onto a digger that had been deployed to break down the barricades.
The public prosecutor asked the court to sentence Z. to four months in prison with a probation period of two years for public violence and attempted aggravated assault. “I think there is sufficient evidence for the charges,” the prosecutor said. He acknowledged that no one got hurt, “but there was a chance of serious bodily harm.” The prosecutor pointed out that Z. said in an interview that she thinks officers are paid to use violence and that she committed no violence because the officers were armed. “One of the few ways to explain that this is not normal and that officers are not paid to be attacked and beaten is a clear punishment,” the prosecutor said.
Z.’s lawyer took issue with the prosecutor describing the stick used as a spear. “By presenting the stick as a stabbing weapon with a metal point, a life-threatening situation is being depicted. It was a stick with which you can at most hurt someone, but not with which you can take someone’s life.”
The lawyer argued for her client’s right to demonstrate and make her voice heard. She agreed that a line was crossed in the right to demonstrate, but Z. did not try to do anyone serious harm. The lawyer asked that Z. be acquitted of attempted aggravated assault. She also asked that her client not be sentenced to prison, arguing that she would not be able to return to the Netherlands when visiting her family in China if she was sentenced to prison.
The court sentenced Z. to two months in prison, convicting her of public violence, but acquitting her for attempted aggravated assault. “The right to demonstrate is a great asset and a lot of behavior is permitted, but there are limits. Particularly when it comes to violence against riot police and officers,” the court said. “Z. should have left when the riot police told her to leave.”
Joaquin L., 60 hours of community service
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) suspects the Spanish-speaking Joaquin L. of throwing bottles containing an unknown liquid and food at one or more riot police officers. L. also appeared in court on May 23 last year, but the case was paused and postponed because the man refused to identify himself and his lawyer did not have time to prepare.
Today, L. spoke to the court and confessed. “I did indeed have a bottle and I threw food at the police. It is not because I have problems with the police or I hate them, but it was a reaction to the situation at that moment. I saw that the police responded violently to the demonstration and that’s why I did this. I regret it and I was angry. I thought it was unfair to see what happened.”
The prosecutor recommended a prison sentence of 2 months against L. “If you as a person from a group throw things at the police, then it seems normal for that entire group to throw things at the police,” the prosecutor defended the demand.
L.’s lawyer agrees that a punishment should be imposed, but asked for community service instead of prison “He is really a pure first offender,” she said. He has had no previous run-ins with the police. The officer he threw at was not hit by the bottle or the food, the lawyer pointed out. “The atmosphere really changed when the police decided to disperse that demonstration. My client saw that happening, got angry, and reacted in a split second. He tried to cause a distraction.”
The court sentenced L. to 60 hours of community service. “It is a serious act to throw things at someone who has to maintain order,” the judge said. “I do not think prison is appropriate, I choose community service.”
Peike S., acquitted
The third suspect is Peike S. According to the prosecutor, he threw stones and balloons with an unknown substance at riot police officers from the barricade.
S. denied all the charges. “I didn’t throw anything at all. I was there purely because of the situation in Gaza. I demonstrated peacefully and didn’t throw anything at the police,” he said in court. “I wasn’t anywhere near the barricade.”
The public prosecutor also demanded a two-month prison sentence against S., stressing that violence against the police cannot be normalized. A police officer testified that S. was seen throwing balloons, the prosecutor said.
S.’s lawyer stressed that the prosecutor presented very limited evidence against her client - only one statement from a police officer. “We are almost a year further and no additional questions have been asked and given the time that has elapsed, I would like to ask you to acquit my client now.”
The court agreed with the lawyer and acquitted S. “I cannot establish that you threw things. I have to make do with the file, but there is not enough evidence in it,” the judge said.
