Dutch court rejects ban of paedophile party

AMSTERDAM - A Dutch court said on Monday a political party formed by paedophiles could not be banned as it had the same right to exist as any other party and was protected by democratic freedoms.

The Brotherly Love, Freedom and Diversity party (PNVD) was launched in May and campaigns for a cut in the age of consent from 16 to 12 and the legalisation of child pornography and sex with animals, provoking widespread outrage in the Netherlands.

The Solace group that campaigns against paedophiles sought a ban as it said the party infringed the rights of children and its ideas were a threat to social norms and values in a democratic state. But a court in The Hague rejected the bid.

"The freedom of expression, the freedom of assembly and the freedom of association ... should be seen as the foundations of the democratic rule of law and the PNVD is also entitled to these freedoms," the court said in a statement.

The court said these freedoms were not unlimited, but limits to them could only apply to activities that undermined public order and judges could not take lightly a decision to ban a political party.

"It is up to the voter to give a judgment on the arguments of political parties," Judge H. Hofhuis told the court. It is not Dutch practice to publish the first names of judges.

No Kidding, a group campaigning for children's rights, said the right to freedom of expression was not absolute and called on the Dutch government to act against the PNVD.

"Dutch citizens must make their voices heard if we do not want to sacrifice our children to paedophile interests," it said in a statement, adding it planned to petition parliament.

The PNVD says it wants to lift the taboo on paedophilia which it said had intensified since the 1996 Marc Dutroux child abuse scandal in neighbouring Belgium.

"We expected to win. We are not doing anything criminal so why should you ban the PNVD?" the party's chairman, Marthijn Uittenbogaard, was quoted as saying by Dutch news agency ANP.

The Netherlands, which already has liberal policies on soft drugs, prostitution and gay marriage, has been shocked by the new party. An opinion poll showed that 82 per cent want the government to do something to stop the party.

The party wants to allow possession of child pornography and supports broadcasting pornography on daytime television, with only violent pornography limited to the late evening. It also wants youths aged 16 and up to be allowed to appear in pornographic films and prostitute themselves.

- REUTERS