Netherlands: Arnhem Mayor Bans Pegida Leader

Hat tip Vlad Tepes and Gates of Vienna

Edwin Wagensveld wanted to burn a Koran in Arnhem on Saturday

Arnhem (Netherlands) Mayor Ahmed Marcouch has issued a 6-month ban on Pegida leader Edwin Wagensveld from entering Arnhem. Wagensveld was planning to hold a demonstration in the town on Saturday to burn a Koran. In January, he attempted to do so in Arnhem but was prevented when a riot broke out. Marcouch is citing concern for public safety if Wagensveld is allowed to enter the city.

The below article from Nu.nl is translated from Dutch by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6306119/pegida-voorman-krijgt-gebiedsverbod-van-zes-maanden-in-arnhem.html

21 March 2024 at 18:45

Pegida leader gets 6-month local ban in Arnhem

Edwin Wagensveld, the leader of the radical-right group, Pegiga, cannot enter the city of Arnhem for 6 months. Mayor Ahmed Marcouch has imposed a (local) ban on Wagensveld. The ban goes into immediate effect.

Marcouch will reconsider the ban after three months, he has informed Wagensveld.

The Pegida leader wanted to burn a Koran next Saturday on Jans Square in Arnhem. On Wednesday, Marcouch forbid that on the advice of the police out of fear of chaos and because there would be concrete terrorist fears.

Wagensveld said on social media that he would definitely come to Arnhem on Saturday. The mayor reacted that the Pegida leader would definitely not enter Arnhem. Now Marcouch has imposed a local ban on him.

Wagensveld is not allowed to appear anywhere in Arnhem because of the ban. He is allowed to travel through Arnhem by train or bus but is not allowed to get off. Arnhem is a central station for trains to and from Germany, where Wagensveld lives. There is also an exception in the case that he has to appear in the courthouse in Arnhem.

Police cannot guarantee safety

The mayor of Arnhem fears that the arrival of Wagensveld will attract groups and individuals who will try to stop him with violence or try to prevent his actions.

In addition, there are probably groups who also want to commit acts of violence. Marcouch speaks of a “high degree of probability”. There are concrete threats against the Pegida leader.

Marcouch expects that many more counter-demonstrators will come to Arnhem via calls on social media shortly before the demonstration, “which increases the unpredictability and thus, the uncontrollability of the anticipated serious disorder”. Police say safety cannot be guaranteed, even with the deployment of a large police presence.

Wagensveld tried to burn a Koran in Arnhem on January 13. That did not occur because there were many counter-demonstrators. The demonstration turned into riots and fights.