developing· Security· Updated
Dutch Rapper Sentenced for Harassing IDF Soldier and Journalist
A court in Utrecht, Netherlands, has sentenced a 43-year-old Dutch rapper and pro-Palestinian activist known as APPA, whose real name is Rashid al-Ghazzawi, to 40 hours of community service for doxing an IDF soldier and a Dutch journalist. The sentence, which includes 20 hours suspended for two years, was handed down under a Dutch law against doxing enacted in January 2024.
3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since
What happened
- 01A Dutch court sentenced rapper APPA, Rashid al-Ghazzawi, to 40 hours of community service for doxing an IDF soldier and a journalist.
- 02In March 2024, the rapper published personal details of a dual Dutch-Israeli IDF soldier on Instagram, calling her a psychopath and inciting harassment.
- 03The soldier's mother reported severe harassment, including being photographed and yelled at by individuals at her home and workplace.
- 04The rapper also doxed a Dutch public broadcaster NOS journalist who reported on the harassment of the soldier's family.
- 05The court in Utrecht rejected the rapper's defense that he was gathering information for potential legal proceedings against the soldier.
- 06The prosecution had requested 60 hours of community service, but the court handed down 40 hours, with 20 hours suspended.
- 07The conviction was made under a new Dutch law against doxing that was enacted in January 2024.
In March 2024, the rapper published personal details and photographs of a young soldier holding dual Dutch and Israeli citizenship on his Instagram account, which had over 83,000 followers. He called her a "rat" and a "psychopath," accused her of murdering women and children, and urged his followers to find more information and act against her. This led to the online dissemination of her name, birthdate, and birthplace, and her mother reported severe harassment, including individuals appearing at her workplace and home.
The rapper also targeted a journalist from the Dutch public broadcaster NOS who reported on the harassment of the soldier's family. He published the journalist's photograph and personal details on Instagram, accusing her of lying and issuing threats. The court rejected his defenses, which claimed he was gathering information for potential legal action and responding to the journalist's reporting, ruling instead that he abused his social media influence to intimidate and harass the victims.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: NEWSru Israel. Read NEWSru Israel’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre2
- RightNone
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
- Other1
Not in the Left, Right or Arab press