A former Pakistani worldwide cricketer went on trial Tuesday within the Netherlands for allegedly trying to incite the homicide of anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders, with prosecutors demanding a 12-year sentence if convicted. Dutch public prosecutors stated Khalid Latif, 37, who stays in Pakistan, had provided 21,000 euros ($23,000) in a web-based video from 2018 through which he known as for Wilders’ killing.

The outspoken Dutch MP on the time cancelled a contest for cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed after indignant demonstrations broke out, significantly in Pakistan, and the far-right politician was inundated with dying threats.

“Latif tried to move others to murder Mr Wilders and to avenge the cartoon contest,” prosecutor F. A. Kuipers advised the judges.

“Not only was his goal to end a human life with violence, but with his appeal he tried to silence a Dutch representative,” she stated at a courtroom listening to, held at a excessive safety courthouse close to Schiphol airport.

“Calling for a murder to prevent the cartoon competition and offering a sum of money to kill the organiser of that competition, should be very severely punished as far as the Public Prosecution is concerned,” Kuipers added, earlier than asking for a 12-year sentence.

Neither Latif, nor any lawyer have been current within the courtroom. The Pakistani embassy in The Hague had no remark immediately after the listening to and Latif couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.

Kuipers stated prosecutors have tried since 2018 to talk to the cricketer and handed over a request to Islamabad for authorized help, to no avail.

The Netherlands doesn’t have a treaty relating to authorized help with Pakistan, she stated. “The questions we have for Latif remain unanswered,” Kuipers stated.

‘Won’t be silenced’

Wilders, who was in courtroom throughout the listening to, advised the judges dying threats on his life elevated after his plans to stage the controversial cartoon competitors. Known for his firebrand feedback about Islam, Wilders has been underneath 24-hour state safety since 2004.

“Whatever you find of the cartoon competition, there is no reason to put a price of death on somebody’s head for it,” Wilders stated.

Addressing Latif personally, Wilders, recognized for his peroxide bouffant hairdo, stated “your call to have me murdered will never silence me”.

But on the time, the plan to stage the competition acquired widespread criticism at dwelling, with politicians, native media and peculiar residents slamming the thought as needlessly antagonising Muslims.

Latif’s name resonated in the true world, Kuipers stated. A Dutch courtroom in 2019 sentenced a Pakistani man to 10 years in jail for plotting to assassinate Wilders within the wake of the cancelled contest.

The man, recognized as Junaid I. was arrested in 2018 at a practice station in The Hague after he posted a movie on Facebook through which he stated he needed to “send Wilders to hell” and urged others to assist. The verdict is because of be handed down on September 11.

Latif, 37, who performed 5 one-day internationals and 13 T20Is for Pakistan, was banned from cricket for 5 years in 2017 for spot-fixing in a Pakistan Super League match in Dubai. Latif, who had proven super early promise as a cricketer however didn’t make an influence at worldwide stage, made his final Pakistan look towards the West Indies in Abu Dhabi in September 2016.

He accomplished his ban final yr and has since been dwelling a low-profile life in Karachi, teaching at membership stage.