Willem Engel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Willem Engel (2020)

Willem Christiaan Engel (born 15 March 1977) is a Dutch activist who founded the controversial organization Viruswaanzin (Virus Madness), and leads it under its new name Viruswaarheid (Virus Truth). The organization regularly protests against the Dutch corona measures,[1] and promotes the theory that risks of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands have been exaggerated and that measures against the spread of the virus are abused to restrict fundamental rights. This theory is regarded as a conspiracy theory. Willem Engel's main motivation is media attention, in his urge for press attention he often makes controversial statements that are scientifically incorrect.[2]


Biography[]

Engel was born in Utrecht on 15 March 1977,[3] and grew up in a large family. He is the son of a real estate mogul.[4] He studied biopharmacy and started his doctoral studies, but in 2008 left the field and started a dance academy where he taught the Brazilian zouk.

Politics[]

Viruswaanzin/Viruswaarheid[]

In May 2020, after his business had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded the organization Viruswaanzin ("virus madness"), which was later renamed to Viruswaarheid ("virus truth").

Engel's organization claims that corruption in the government has ruined some people, and that the number of deaths from COVID-19 is comparable to a normal flu season. In early 2021 he started a court case against the curfew that had been instated by the Dutch government, and the court ruled that there was insufficient legal basis for the imposed curfew. The Dutch government appealed and with a sped-up procedure passed a law that provided the legal ground for the measure.[5] The measure was accepted by the House of Representatives on 18 February 2021, and by the Senate on the next day, the same day the appeal was handled by a higher court (which nullified the lower court's judgment).

The organization is also known for personal attacks against prominent politicians and virologists: In January 2021, the public spokesman of the organization (Michaël Verstraeten) called for re-introducing the death penalty to punish virologists.[6] [7] In January 2022, Engel shared the home address of Sigrid Kaag, the leader of the Dutch Democrats 66 party and finance minister, on Twitter. Kaag reported this to the Dutch police. [8] Engel's Twitter account was temporarily suspended.

Vrij en Sociaal Nederland[]

In January 2021 Engel joined  [nl], a new political party that looked to get seats in the House of Representatives during the 2021 Dutch general election. He was placed third on the party list.[9] His placement on the list, however, caused a split in the party.[10]


References[]

  1. ^ "Viruswaarheid maakt lawaai in Den Haag: protest met potten en pannen, een persoon aangehouden". Algemeen Dagblad (AD). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Dutch celebs face backlash over Covid rebellion". BBC. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  3. ^ Aangifte
  4. ^ "Profiel Willem Engel". Trouw (in Dutch). 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Kabinet was overrompeld door uitspraak over avondklok". Het Parool. 17 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Wie zijn de mensen achter 'Viruswaanzin', de groep die vindt dat Van Ranst de doodstraf moet krijgen?". Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Advocaat moet Twitter-account verwijderen na oproep om doodstraf voor virologen". Nieuwsblad. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Sigrid Kaag doet aangifte tegen Willem Engel na online verspreiden van haar adres". Algemeen Dagblad (AD). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Willem Engel derde op kieslijst Vrij en Sociaal Nederland" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  10. ^ Lammers, Esther (15 February 2021). "Chaos bij partij Willem Engel: wil het echte Vrij en Sociaal Nederland opstaan?". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 February 2021.

External link[]

Retrieved from ""