Top Court In The Hague Declares Dutch Lockdowns 'Illegitimate Far-Reaching Violation'

Hague court declares Dutch coronavirus lockdowns “illegitimate, far-reaching violation”

Ethan Huff 

A top court in The Hague issued a “shock” ruling the other day condemning The Netherlands for its sweeping Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) curfew restrictions.

Said restrictions “must be lifted immediately,” the court said, because they are an abuse of power that violates freedom of movement and assembly.

This decision comes after weeks of fierce protests throughout The Netherlands, where Dutch people in unison – if only we had such unity here in the United States – told their government enough is enough.

An official court statement explains that the nation’s invocation of the Extraordinary Powers of Civil Authority Act to impose a national curfew is unjustifiable and will not be tolerated.

Only in a “very urgent and exceptional circumstance” is the Dutch government allowed to circumvent the normal legislative channels – and the Chinese virus does not qualify.

“The curfew is a far-reaching violation of the right to freedom of movement and privacy and (indirectly) limits, among other things, the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration,” the court announced.

“The Preliminary Relief Judge ruled that the introduction of the curfew did not involve the special urgency required to be able to make use of the [act].”

The court added that the Dutch government had plenty of time to deliberate a curfew through the normal legislative process, but instead chose to abuse emergency powers instead.

“The use of this law to impose curfew is not legitimate,” the court declared.

Reports indicate that The Netherlands’ now-defunct curfew was among the most draconian in Europe. Since Jan. 23, Dutch citizens were ordered to remain inside their homes between the hours of 9pm and 4:30am.

Violators faced steep fines, and the restrictions were originally intended to remain in place until March 2. Thanks to the court ruling, they were nullified a whole lot sooner.

Demonstrators made a point of emphasizing that The Netherlands is not in wartime, nor is it under any known threat of invasion. As such, there is no legitimate reason to lock everyone away inside their homes.