A court case initiated in November 2018 at Arnhem sought to legally alter a date of birth from 11 March 1949 to 11 March 1969. Emile Albert Rudolf Ratelband argued that if individuals possess the right to modify names or gender, their age should remain equally fluid, though the judicial request was formally denied on December 3, 2018.
Political Activities
After failing to secure the position of lijsttrekker for the Leefbaar Nederland party, Ratelband established his own political entity, Lijst Ratelband, in 2002. This party participated in the Tweede Kamer elections on 22 January 2003, but failed to secure representation within the parliament.
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Ratelband has generated significant controversy through various public pronouncements. In 2005, he described Osama bin Laden as an enlightened thinker and suggested the September 11 attacks were components of a divine plan. He reiterated support for bin Laden in 2011, labeling him a freedom fighter. Further accusations include remarks regarding homosexuality, which he categorized as an illness in 2009. In 2020, he made statements concerning Lodewijk Asscher, which the CIDI condemned as antisemitic. Additionally, in September 2022, he voiced support for the television program Ongehoord Nieuws following the broadcast of content involving racial slurs and aggressive racial generalizations.
Judicial History
Legal challenges have punctuated his career. In 2009, he faced trial as a suspect in an arson case concerning his own residence, though the court determined the evidence for conviction was insufficient despite strong indicators of his involvement. He received a conviction for the assault of his ex-wife during a 2013 incident, a verdict upheld by higher courts in 2015. In 2020, he was detained by Dutch police following a European arrest warrant related to a custody dispute involving his son. By 2021, he incurred a libel conviction for comments made about a former spouse, which was later upheld in 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 11 March 1949, Arnhem
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Occupations: entrepreneur, non-fiction writer
- Number of children: 8 (as of 2019)
- Political party: Lijst Ratelband
- Age alteration court case: 2018
Questions readers ask
Did Emile Ratelband succeed in legally changing his age?
No, the court rejected his petition on December 3, 2018.
Has he ever served in the Tweede Kamer?
No, his party Lijst Ratelband did not win any seats in the 2003 elections.
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