(Image Source: AFP)
[Saba Sports News] Former Pakistan cricketer Khalid Latif has been sentenced to 12 years in a Dutch court for inciting the murder of Member of Parliament (MP) Geert Wilders. In a 2018 video, Latif allegedly offered 21,000 euros ($22,500) for Wilders’ assassination after Wilders announced a cartoon competition featuring the Prophet Mohammad, which led to widespread protests in Pakistan.
The competition was canceled due to the protests, and Wilders received numerous death threats, prompting him to have 24-hour police protection since 2004. The depiction of Prophet Mohammad is considered blasphemous in Islam.
The presiding judge, G Verbeek, stated that Latif’s call had the potential to incite violence and that he knowingly fueled the desire to harm Geert Wilders.
Latif, who was not present at the trial and had no legal representation, is unlikely to serve the sentence as Pakistan and the Netherlands lack an extradition agreement. Dutch authorities have sought assistance from Pakistan in the past, but without success. An international arrest warrant has been issued for Latif.
Geert Wilders expressed his satisfaction with the sentence but called for Latif’s arrest and extradition from Pakistan. Latif, a former cricketer who made 18 international appearances for Pakistan, including five ODIs and 13 T20Is, had been banned for five years in all formats by the PCB for his involvement in the 2017 PSL spot-fixing scandal.
“It’s a good sentence, but it’s a pity that the accused is not here in court,” Wilders shared. “It is no longer acceptable that the Pakistani authorities refuse to cooperate. I am going to ask the prime minister to ensure that Khalid Latif is arrested in Pakistan and extradited to the Netherlands.”