Willem Engel

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Willem Christiaan Engel (born 15 March 1977) is a Dutch activist who founded the controversial organization Viruswaanzin (loosely translated: Virus Madness), and leads it under its new name Viruswaarheid (loosely translated: Virus Truth). The organization regularly protests against governmental measures on COVID-19 and also often promotes alternative theories (about COVID-19). He for example believes that reported cases and risks of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands have been exaggerated, and the theory that measures against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 are used to restrict fundamental rights. He is also against vaccination against COVID-19 and believes the SARS‑CoV‑2 escaped from a lab in Wuhan. In March 2022, Engel was arrested for incitement after nearly 23.000 people had pressed charges of inciting violence, spreading medical misinformation, fraud, making statements with terrorist intent, and threats. While released under the restriction of no social media interaction at 30 March, at 3 April he was arrested again because he breached the terms of his release. On 20 January 2023 he was convicted of inciting breaking the law (he urged people to attend a forbidden demonstration). His sentence was one month imprisonment, with deduction of time served. The sentence is probationary for 2 years and suspended.