Maarten, a 23-year-old boy from Amsterdam is waiting  to be
extradited to Sweden in connection with events surrounding the European Summit of June 2001 in Gothenburg. The following is a short introduction to the events and the state of affairs up until now. In this information folder, there can also be found the background of Maarten's story and more general information about the events surrounding the European Summit in Gothenburg.

On the morning of June 14, 2001, the European Summit in the Swedish city of Gothenburg was beginning. Maarten had arrived in the city on the night before and had found a place to sleep in a school provided by the city council. This school was surrounded by the police that morning and all people present there (more than 450) were arrested. Maarten, as well, was arrested for nebulous reasons ('You have come to make trouble') and deported to the Netherlands.

He filed a complaint, but it was not taken into consideration. About four months later, he was notified by a Swedish group that is active on behalf of those charged after the European Summit; he was wanted internationally for severe public disturbance and assaulting a police officer. After doing the necessary footwork, it turned out that there in fact was an international search warrant for him in effect. Although the case against him is barely supported, the evidence of Maarten's innocence is sufficent (video recordings and witnesses) and all ther other cases against 'foreigners' (non-Swedes) have meanwhile been transferred back to the suspects' countries of origin, Maarten is now in danger of being extradited to Sweden.

The chance that Maarten will get a fair trial in Sweden is slim, according to his attorney and those who have been following the trials. The Gothenburg court in comparable cases was not objective, trusts manipulated evidence in addition to police witnesses who contradict one another and deals out extremely severe punishment by Swedish standards (especially to suspects considered to be 'political'). In short, it is more interested in setting examples than in due process. And Maarten's chances of obtaining justice in a subsequent higher appeal are practically nil. He will not receive a fair trial if he is deported to Sweden.

That is why we are demanding:

Immediate freedom for Maarten!
A trial held in the Netherlands!

More information can be obtained from

Support Organisation Amsterdam
Postbus 10591
1001 EN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
e-mail: info@steunmaarten.org
telephone: +31-(0)6-42356735