The municipality of Utrecht has rejected anti-Islam movement Pediga’s request to hold a second protest in the city this weekend. “The risk of disorder is too great.” Pediga will not be allowed to protest in the city on Saturday, but the protest already arranged in the Hogelandsepark on Sunday may go through.
Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen announced this on Friday, RTL Nieuws reports.
On Thursday Pediga applied to hold a second demonstration on Saturday, in exactly the same time and place that Utrecht Bekent Kleur already has a demonstration arranged. “The message of both organizations is directly opposed to one another. The risk of disorder is too great,” Van Zanen said.
According to the municipality, Pediga would not consider an alternative for Saturday’s demonstration and would not take any responsibility for ensuring that things do not get out of hand. The mayor believes that the importance of public safety and security is higher than the right to demonstrate. “The right to demonstrate is not the right to confrontation, that applies to all parties.”