A 33-year-old Iraqi man is on trial in the Dutch city of Alkmaar over allegations of raping and severely assaulting his ex-girlfriend last year.
Sameh F. should not have been in the Netherlands at all, as he had previously been declared an unwanted foreigner under Dutch immigration law, yet remained in the country when the crimes allegedly occurred.
According to prosecutors, the alleged rape took place in October 2024, followed in November by multiple assaults and threats. Sameh F. is accused of subjecting his ex-partner to repeated violence during that period.
During the hearing on Monday, July 28th, it was not clear on what grounds he was declared an undesirable alien.
The case has fueled political debate over immigration in the Netherlands. On social media, Dutch right-wing leader Geert Wilders, whose Party for Freedom (PVV) is expected to win the elections in October, posted:
This is exactly why you should vote PVV! Thanks to our amendment, being an illegal (immigrant) and aiding such people becomes punishable!
Ook hierom dus #StemPVV!
Dankzij ons amendement wordt illegaliteit en iedereen die dit soort lieden helpt strafbaar! 💪 https://t.co/dqUJevvdyJ
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) July 28, 2025
Wilders was referring to a recently adopted package of asylum law reforms: an amendment initiated by the PVV criminalizes undocumented residency and penalizes those offering assistance to illegal migrants.
The case of Sameh F. is symbolic of the failed migration policies of Western Europe. The perpetrators of many recent violent crimes in Germany have turned out to be failed asylum seekers who had no right to be in the country.