Europe

The Netherlands bans a Palestinian activist linked to the NGO Samidoun from entering the country

The Netherlands bans a Palestinian activist linked to the NGO Samidoun from entering the country

MADRID 25 Oct. () –

This Friday, the Netherlands authorities prohibited the entry into the country of activist Mohamed Khatib, a member of the Samidoun organization, considered terrorist by countries such as the United States and Canada, among others, due to his alleged links with Palestinian Islamist groups.

Khatib was scheduled to give a speech next week at a Dutch university, although his entry into the territory will now be restricted. From the Government, they argue that “there is no place in the Netherlands to spread hatred and glorify violence.”

Thus, the Ministers of Justice and Asylum, David van Weel and Marjolein Faber, respectively, have regretted the controversial actions of the NGO in Europe and have accused Khatib of “legitimizing violence against the State of Israel, including violence perpetrated by organizations who appear on the European Union’s terrorist list”. “He also actively expresses his support for terrorist organizations. These statements can have a radicalizing effect,” they warned.

The Dutch Government has also expressed its support for the German proposal to include Samidoun on the European sanctions list. “This allows us to impose sanctions at European level, such as freezing assets,” the ministers said in a statement.

Samidoun’s activities were banned in Germany in November 2023 after the organization planned an activity to celebrate the “victory of the resistance” in connection with the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israeli soil, in which 1,200 were killed. people. German authorities described this behavior as a “show of support for barbaric terrorism” by the Palestinian armed group.

Subsequently, other countries have condemned the NGO’s actions. Belgium, for its part, has indicated that it plans to withdraw Khatib’s refugee status due to his controversial statements.

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