“Antifa is not an organisation, it’s an ideology. You [may dislike it, but] you cannot ban it.” In an interview with journalist Harm Botje of Follow the Money NL, I reflect on the recent riots in The Hague and the broader work of the Justice for Prosperity foundation.
Far-right rioters attempted to storm the Binnenhof, vandalised the D66 office (political party) and chanted slogans like “AZC weg ermee” (“get rid of asylum centres”) while performing Nazi salutes. Shortly before this, following Trump’s example, the Dutch parliament passed a motion to designate Antifa as a terrorist organisation. In this clip, I explain why that is symbolic politics: Antifa is not an organisation but an ideology. You cannot ban it. And frankly, it is not for politicians to decide.
Reports from the AIVD and NCTV also make clear that the real threat comes from far-right groups, which are larger in number and more willing to use violence. The motion against Antifa is a political signal with no practical enforceability. It looks decisive. It draws attention away from the actual risks.
The full episode goes deeper into the causes of polarisation and the role of extremist networks.
