John van den Heuvel does not have to retract his column about Vito Shukrula, the former lawyer of Ridouan Taghi. The judge ruled this in a summary proceeding that Shukrula had brought against De Telegraaf, in which the column was published.
“I am very happy that the judge ruled in my favor as a columnist, completely rejected the requested rectification, and gives space to journalistic freedom,” the crime journalist told De Telegraaf.
“I regard the summary proceeding by Taghi’s lawyers as the umpteenth attempt to silence journalists,” the journalist continues. “In recent years, I have already experienced severe intimidation, attempted violence, and threats to try to silence me. I also regard this summary proceeding as such an attempt. Fortunately, the judge has thwarted this.”
Shukrula had demanded rectification because, according to him, Van den Heuvel had published “factually incorrect, malicious, and defamatory information” about him. In the column, Van den Heuvel writes, based on sources, that Shukrula had spoken with Taghi in private against the rules. The court rejected all of Shukrula’s demands.