Former lawyer Bram Moszkowicz, who now leads the populist splinter party VoorNederland, wants to take the Dutch government to court over its policies towards refugees.

Moszkowicz, who was disbarred in 2012 for bringing the profession into disrepute, says the government’s actions break two clauses in criminal law.

One, he says, centres on helping, supporting or hiding the enemy at times of war. The second involves deliberately damaging the interests of the state.

‘The Netherlands is taking in Syrian refugees, but their number could include IS jihadis,’ Moszkowicz said at the weekend.  ‘The cabinet is not only endangering the Netherlands but is committing a criminal offence,’ he said.

In addition, prime minister Mark Rutte’s role in discussions on resettling refugees throughout Europe is damaging the interests of the Dutch state, Moszkowicz said.

VoorNederland largely comprises people who left the anti-immigration PVV, mainly because it is too left-wing on social issues.