Vereniging Martijn

Vereniging MARTIJN
Formation 1982 (dissolved by Supreme Court in 2014)
Purpose To advocate the acceptance of pedophilia and legalization of sexual relationships between adults and children
Region served
 Netherlands
Official language
 Dutch
Leader Ad van den Berg

Vereniging MARTIJN was a Dutch association that advocates the societal acceptance of pedophilia and legalization of sexual relationships between adults and children.[1] The group "is widely reviled", but courts upheld the group's right to exist in June 2011.[2][3] MARTIJN was expelled from the International Lesbian and Gay Association in 1994. On 27 June 2012 a Dutch court ruled that the group was illegal and ordered it to disband immediately.[4] However this decision was overturned by a higher court. The Dutch Supreme Court overturned the decision by the higher court on 18 April 2014, resulting in a final ban of the association. The association filed an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights[5] but it was rejected.[6]

History

The organization began in 1984, and claims that it "fights for the social and societal acceptance of child-adult relationships", emphasising what they call the "consent of both child and adult" and the "freedom for the child to withdraw from the relationship", claiming to be in favor of "objective, scientifically verifiable truth and against political terror and discrimination."[7]

OK Magazine

From 1986 till 2006 the group published OK Magazine, available only through the mail and not in retail stores, featuring essays, letters, interviews and photographs of scantily clad or naked children, mostly boys.[1]

Stop MARTIJN

Logo of Actiecomité Stop MARTIJN

In 2003 Vereniging MARTIJN faced opposition by the Actiecomité Stop MARTIJN (Action Committee Stop MARTIJN), which organized demonstrations against them. Formed and led by Michiel Smit of the New Right, Florens van der Kooi of the NNP, as well as Inge Bleecke of Moeders tegen Pedofilie (Mothers against Pedophilia),[8] the committee was labelled as extreme right by their opponents.[9]

Photographs of Princess Amalia

The organization was in the news in October 2007 when it was learned that photographs of Princess Amalia, daughter of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and his wife Princess Maxima, were on display on the website's forum. The Prince went to court to request a €50,000 fine and the removal of the photos from the website.[10] The court agreed that the photos must be removed, and imposed a fine of €5,000 to be paid every time photos of children of the royal family are placed on the site again. The organisation had to pay €1,235 in costs.[11][12][13]

Police investigations

Ad van den Berg

The home of the organization's president, Ad van den Berg, was raided by police in October 2010; downloads of illegal material had been traced back to Van den Berg's internet connection. It was announced in March 2011 that large quantities of child pornography were found among the confiscated material, and even more material, including computers, was confiscated when Van den Berg was arrested on 29 March.[14]

Suspects in the Amsterdam sex case, an investigation into the abuse of tens of children in Amsterdam kindergartens, were members of MARTIJN.[15]

Catholic priest controversy

On 20 May 2011 Herman Spronck, the head of the Dutch arm of the Salesian Catholic order, confirmed to RTL Nieuws that a priest under him had been on the board of MARTIJN until the Van den Berg raids. He added, "Of course we reject this and distance ourselves from this personal initiative." RTL obtained interviews both with Spronck and the priest (73-year-old "Father Van B.") in which the two defended adult-child sex as not always damaging.[16] The priest concerned has prior convictions for child sexual abuse.[17]

Legal aspects

On 18 June 2011 the Ministry of Security and Justice announced that the association's activities are not illegal under Dutch law. Although individual members have been suspected or convicted of illegal activities, the crimes were not committed as part of tasks for the association. Consequently, it is not possible to prosecute, ban or disband the association.[3]

On 27 June 2012, a Dutch court in Assen ruled that the group was illegal and ordered the group to cease activities and disband effective immediately. The judge stated that the group's actions and statements regarding sexual contact between adults and children was in conflict with the accepted norms of values of Dutch society. The judge went on to say these activities were against the law and damaged the integrity of children. According to the ruling, the Dutch state is not obliged to tolerate such actions. In his statement, the judge went on to reaffirm the overriding need to protect children.[4] However, in April 2013 this decision was overturned by a higher court. The judge motivated his or her decision by stating that Martijn club did not commit crimes and the right of freedom of association.[18] On 18 April 2014 the Supreme Court overturned the decision by the higher court resulting in a final ban of the association.[19] The association is planning to appeal their case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).[5] As of February 3, 2015, the ECHR rejected a complaint by Martijn against the ban; the organization remains illegal, and the court will not hear the case, reported ANP.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 LEES OOK (23 April 2005). "Subscription magazine for pedophiles" (in Dutch). nieuwsblad.be. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Toby Sterling (22 May 2011). "Dutch Catholic Priest Pedophilia Endorsement Shocks Church". Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Justitie kan pedoclub Martijn niet verbieden". NU.nl (in Dutch). 18 June 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Rechtbank verbiedt pedovereniging Martijn". NU.nl. 27 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 Criado, Elisa (22 July 2014). "Dutch paedophile club to fight their ban at the European Court of Human Rights". The Independent. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 Pro-pedophile association loses EU court bid
  7. ↑ "About MARTIJN". Vereniging MARTIJN. Archived from the original on 5 August 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  8. ↑ (Dutch) Pedofielen: levenslang gestraft of een nieuwe kans? En is geluk maakbaar?, RKK, 2 March 2004
  9. ↑ (Dutch) Demonstratie Stop Martijn verhinderd door anti-fascisten, RTV Rijnmond, 25 October 2003
  10. ↑ Prince furious with paedophile website. Dutchnews.nl (30 October 2007).
  11. ↑ Paedophile site must remove royal photos. Dutchnews.nl (2 November 2007).
  12. ↑ NOS Journaal: Koninklijke familie wint kort geding. Nos.nl.
  13. ↑ Official publication court ruling (in Dutch) (or use this translation
  14. ↑ "Voorzitter pedovereniging gearresteerd". De Telegraaf. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  15. ↑ "Robert M. gebruikte valse naam". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 16 December 2010.
  16. ↑ "Dutch priest belonged to pedophile club". The Boston Globe. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  17. ↑ "Pater was bestuurslid van pedofielenvereniging Martijn". de Gelderlander (in Dutch). 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  18. ↑ Judith Laanen (2 April 2013). "Pedofielenvereniging Martijn mag blijven bestaan, hof verwerpt verbod". nrc.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  19. ↑ Annemarie Coevert (18 April 2013). "Hoge Raad: vereniging Martijn definitief verboden en ontbonden". nrc.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 July 2015.
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