Arkel Arrest Case – Netherlands 2026: Day 1, September 14:
“Most of the hearing turned on whether the defendant is the person described in the witness statements as the IS amni (security official). Several witnesses place him in that role and identify him from a photograph, some from hearsay. He denies it and maintains it is a case of mistaken identity that his photo has wrongly been linked to another man since around 2015, and that the accusations are false rumours from people trying to discredit him.
Documents said to originate from IS were discussed, including payroll records and a list of fighters naming someone unmarried in a security role. He disputes this on the basis that he was already married, but the sources on his marriage date diverge and the Court noted no clear picture emerges from them. Photographs, video, news reports and a Telegram message were also put to him; in each case he says he was there by coincidence or that the material does not concern him.
The prosecution questioned him on the situation in the area, the execution of a friend accused of spying for Hamas, when exactly he left in 2018. He was also questioned on his views on IS where he distinguished between the ideology, which he says he cannot assess, and its implementation, which he called bad. The defence closed by pointing to a witness who withdrew an identification the day after making it.”
Hearings continued on September 16 and 17, with the next hearing scheduled for September 23, 2026. The livestream will be available in Dutch, English, and Arabic. Registration is mandatory to attend the session online.
To register, please send an email to: [email protected] including your name and preferred language for the stream, and a link will be sent to you.
The prosecution presented its closing arguments and sentencing demands on
September 16, 2026.
Disclaimer
This document does not constitute an official court record; rather, it is a summary prepared in collaboration with the Nuhanovic Foundation, based on field notes gathered by its representatives during the court hearings. Please note that this translation is unofficial, published for informational purposes only, and should not be considered an authoritative legal document.
