Court annulls area bans imam Jneid

The district court in the Hague has annulled the area bans imposed in 2020 on imam Fawaz Jneid. According to the court, the reasoning was insufficient to conclude that the presence of mr. Jneid in the banned areas posed such a danger to national security that an area ban was necessary. 

The Dutch temporary law administrative measures against terrorism allows for the minister of Justice and Security to impose an area ban even if no criminal acts have been committed. Although the ban has a time limit of six months, it can be indefinitely extended. In 2017, the minister first imposed an area ban on mr. Jneid; this is now the subject of a case at the European Court of Human Rights. The second, third and fourth extention are currently subject of a case in front of the Council of State. The fifth and sixth extention have been annulled by this decision of the court of the Hague. The minister can appeal the decision.

Mr. Jneid is represented by Tamara Buruma and Tom de Boer.