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Dutch Churchgoers Attack Journalists

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Dutch legislators on Sunday condemned Christian worshipers who attacked journalists reporting on churches’ reopening in two towns despite coronavirus restrictions.

In the western town of Krimpen aan den IJssel, a reporter from regional broadcaster Rijnmond was kicked and beaten outside the Mieras Church, video footage showed.

The suspect, a 43-year-old man from Krimpen, was briefly detained during the church service before being released again, police said. The man “will have to answer for the abuse at a later time,” police added in a statement. Police were also looking for three suspects in Urk, the picturesque fishermen town known for its many churches and aversion towards authorities.

A reporter of public broadcaster PowNed was attacked and hit in Urk near the Reformed Sion Church. A spokesman for the Central Netherlands police unit told Dutch media they had identified a BMW vehicle owner who drove into the reporter.

Police said they were looking “for this driver and the two other suspects” who attacked PowNed’s reporter. “Violence against journalists is unacceptable,” said a spokesman. “We are giving this matter a high priority.” The journalists were slightly injured and planned to file charges.

Both churches where the attacks occurred announced last week they would ignore COVID-19 restrictions and allow hundreds of churchgoers to enter their places of worship without coronavirus restrictions.

The Dutch churches say they have the right to gather under the constitutional protection of freedom of religion. While Leftist and Liberal politicians condemned the violence against reporters outside churches, a legislator of the Christian parties SGP-ChristenUnie (ChristianUnion) expressed understanding for the angry reactions. “Stay away from there, sensation seeker,” said their local representative Elias van Belzen in the Dutch town of Nieuwkoop to the Rijnmond reporter who was beaten and kicked in his stomach.

Frustration has been growing among devoted Christians seeking to worship after a year of mainly lockdowns and social distancing rules in the Netherlands.

The Dutch government claims more freedom is only possible if enough people are vaccinated against COVID-19 despite growing concerns among critical doctors and scientists about possible side effects.

Officials say some 16,500 people died of the coronavirus on a population of more than 17 million people.