Anti-mandate activist William Engel arrested again in Brussels

William Engel, a Dutch activist against COVID-19 mandates, was arrested again today in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. 

The 45-year-old had been arrested last month “on suspicion of sedition” and for having allegedly "posted inflammatory corona-related messages on social media over a long period of time.” 

“Willem Engel has just been arrested by the police for ‘sedition’,” said Engel’s lawyer Jeroen Pols. “The Rutte regime (the Dutch Government led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte) launches a full-scale attack on critics and opposition. In the meantime, they have a big mouth about democracy in Russia,” Pols said. 

Engel was released on Wednesday under several conditions, one of which is that he “refrains from making statements on social media.” 

But apparently Engel did post to social media and was arrested again this morning. 

Engel is a known firebrand in Rotterdam and nearby Brussels, having founded the group “Viruswaarheid” (“Virus truth” in Dutch) in 2020 to fight against the COVID narrative and mandates. 

But Engel is up against a government that is particularly committed to the COVID-19 narrative and heavy-handed with mandates. 

In January, as thousands took to Brussels' streets to protest COVID-19 restrictions, they were met with violence by police who used water cannons and tear gas on the non-violent protestors. 

Yet, despite police brutality against COVID protestors, Brussels Mayor Philippe Close sees himself as a champion of free speech. 

“It’s a very, very, very rare occurrence that I decide to say no to a demonstration,” Close told The Belgium Times. “Take the anti-vax protests as an example: it’s normal that people say no to or disagree with something. It’s a democracy. I have no problem with the large part of the people who take part in that as they respect the rules of the demonstration. I don’t share their views but it is not my responsibility to say that.” 

Close also said that he is “against cancel culture". 

The mayor also expressed satisfaction that citizens complied with the city’s harsh restrictions, which included lockdowns. Copious scientific evidence has since shown lockdowns to be ineffective for public health but effective in destroying lives. 

“Most people accepted the strict measures that we all needed, which our health service required,” said Close.