The public prosecution department is preparing a case against up to 10 suspected jihadists from The Hague, a lawyer for one of them has told broadcaster Nos.

André Seebregts, who represents Azzedine C, says his client faces charges of membership of a terrorist organisation but has not yet seen the evidence, the broadcaster reports.

A number of other men face similar charges, Seebregts said, estimating their total at between five and 10.

C is suspected of trying to recruit people to fight in Syria and of spreading dissent and hatred via social media and news sites. He has been in custody for the past month.

In June, he appeared on television show Nieuwsuur and congratulated Muslims in the Netherlands on the formation of the Iraqi and Syrian caliphate.

Freedom of speech

Seebregts said he expects the eventual trial to revolve around freedom of speech issues and how far that goes. ‘It remains open to question if you are committing an offence by saying on social media you oppose democracy and support a caliphate,’ Seebregts said.

The trial is set for spring 2015 but there will be a preliminary hearing in early December.

C, who is 32 and also known as Abou Moussa was arrested in southern Germany at the end of August and extradited to the Netherlands.

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