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On September 11 (Monday), a Dutch court delivered a significant verdict, sentencing former Pakistani cricketer, Khalid Latif, to a 12-year prison term, Reuters reported. The 37-year-old was charged with urging the assassination of Dutch far-right leader, Geert Wilders. The intriguing aspect of this case is that Latif was tried in absentia, meaning he wasn’t physically present during any phase of the trial. Currently residing in Pakistan, he has not been detained or appeared in any Dutch court proceedings.
The gravity of this case can be traced back to a video uploaded in 2018. Prosecutors highlighted that in this video, Latif explicitly offered a monetary reward to anyone willing to execute Wilders. This reaction was spurred by Wilders’ controversial announcement that year, where he expressed intentions to host a cartoon contest, focusing on depicting caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad. Given that any visual representation or caricature of Prophet Mohammad is considered idolatry and thereby forbidden in Islam, the competition was bound to stir strong sentiments. Due to its sensitive nature and the backlash it received, Wilders later abandoned the idea, but not before it had sparked significant outrage.
The reverence for Prophet Mohammad in Islam is profound. Most followers of the religion perceive any caricature or depiction of him as not just forbidden but deeply offensive and disrespectful. The Dutch court's verdict emphasized that Latif's statements in the video were not just personal views but amounted to incitement to murder, sedition, and threats. Such acts, especially when amplified through digital media, have serious repercussions and can lead to real-world violence.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Khalid Latif's name has made headlines for non-sporting reasons. In 2017, he faced a major setback in his cricketing career, receiving a five-year ban due to his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal. Despite the ups and downs in his cricket journey, Latif did have his moments of glory, like when he captained the Pakistani cricket team during the 2010 Asian Games.
Khalid played in five ODIs and 13 T20Is for the Men in Green and scored 384 runs in international cricket with the help of two half-centuries.
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