24 November 2025
Demonstration in front of the International Criminal Court
On Sunday 23 November 2025, demonstrators gathered in front of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. At the centre was a speech by former Dutch Member of Parliament Harry Van Bommel, who argued in favour of an international ban on the Muslim Brotherhood. In his address, he spoke directly to the International Criminal Court and to the European Union, asking for a clear legal stance on the organisation. The message was intended to resonate not only in the Netherlands, but across Europe.
The gathering was modest, yet the setting carried a clear signal. By choosing the court’s forecourt as a stage, Harry Van Bommel placed a discussion in the open air that is often confined to security briefings and political committees. The demonstrators listened to a speech that raised a question many societies struggle with: how far can democratic states go when dealing with religious movements that follow a structured political agenda?
Slogan and vision of the Muslim Brotherhood
In his speech, Harry Van Bommel referred to the well-known slogan of the Muslim Brotherhood, “Islam is the solution”. In his reading, this phrase reflects a view in which Islam is not only a personal belief, but also the basis for political, social and economic organisation. He noted that this way of thinking has long been present in large parts of the Arab world, where it plays a role in public debates about the future of society.
He argued that this vision has concrete implications once a movement actively seeks influence over institutions, education and public life. The central issue he raised in The Hague was whether democratic systems can accommodate a movement that uses political participation to promote a programme in which religious norms are meant to guide state authority.
Experience from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A striking element in Harry Van Bommel’s address was his reference to a recent visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a country with two holy cities and a long religious tradition. There, he said, the Muslim Brotherhood is regarded by the authorities as a dangerous organisation. According to his account, officials in the country are familiar with the movement’s history, its methods and its potential impact on stability.
He contrasted this with the way the Muslim Brotherhood is still perceived in several Western countries, where it is sometimes treated as just another actor in public life. The question he posed to his audience was why experience gained over many years in the Middle East is not more prominent in Western discussions on the movement.
Long-term strategy and use of networks
At the core of his speech, Harry Van Bommel portrayed the Muslim Brotherhood as a movement with a long-term strategy. In his view, the organisation aims at a thorough Islamisation of society by promoting a religiously inspired legal order on a global level and by presenting Islam as the ultimate point of reference for legislation.
He referred to analyses that describe this approach as a multi-stage plan. According to these descriptions, the movement works through ideological education, engagement in social and religious structures and participation in politics. For decades, the Muslim Brotherhood has used media and a range of communication channels to spread its ideas. In doing so, it has built a network that extends across borders and seeks to advance the same agenda in different national contexts.
French report and role of the Dutch intelligence service
To give his argument specific content, Harry Van Bommel referred to a recent French report. In that report, as he summarised it, the Muslim Brotherhood is described as having gained a foothold within social, religious and political structures. The movement, according to this account, tries to influence positions and decisions from within organisations in neighbourhoods and cities, with the broader aim of building durable support.
He also pointed to public reports from the Dutch intelligence service, which warn about the possible impact of the Muslim Brotherhood on the democratic rule of law. These reports argue that the movement should remain under constant scrutiny, precisely because its activities and ambitions are not confined to one country but stretch across different regions.
Appeal to the International Criminal Court and the European Union
In closing, Harry Van Bommel returned to the symbolic meaning of the location. Speaking in front of the International Criminal Court, an institution associated worldwide with the prosecution of serious crimes, he called for the Muslim Brotherhood to be designated as a terrorist organisation and for steps to be taken towards an international ban. He linked this appeal directly to the European Union, which he described as a key arena for coordinated measures.
He acknowledged that decisions in such matters are rarely swift, yet stressed that persistence would be essential. His message to institutions and citizens alike was that democracies need a clear idea of how they intend to safeguard their basic principles when dealing with movements that use existing freedoms to pursue a different social and political order. For readers of indegazette.be, this demonstration in The Hague offers a glimpse of how experiences from the Middle East, intelligence assessments and political debate converge in a public setting before a major international court.
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Speech by Harry Van Bommel in front of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, 23 November 2025
Andy Vermaut +32499357495