Khalid Latif, a former Pakistani cricketer, has been sentenced in absentia for threats made against a Dutch politician.

On Monday, Latif was sentenced to 12 years in prison for urging people to murder right-wing politician, Geert Wilders.

Latif had posted a video in 2018 which offered a large monetary reward for the murder of Wilders.

Latif posted the video after Wilders had announced a contest for people to draw a cartoon of the prophet Mohammad. The competition was subsequently cancelled.

Depictions of Mohammad are taboo in Islam and are seen as a form of idolatry. 

The competition had seen protests in Muslim countries around the world with people burning Dutch flags and calling for the murder of Wilders.

Latif has been sentenced to 12 years in prison,  but is unlikely to serve the sentence as there is no extradition treaty between Pakistan and the Netherlands.

Latif played five one-day internationals and 13 T20 Internationals for Pakistan.

In 2017 he was banned from participating in cricket in any way following a spot-fixing scandal in the Pakistan Super League.

Wilders is the leader of the Party for Freedom, which is currently the third-biggest party in the Dutch Parliament.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay


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