this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2024
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[–] [email protected] 74 points 4 months ago (4 children)

He did barely a year of prison... I personally don't quite think it's enough for raping a kid, but hey that's just my opinion

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 months ago

It seems like a lot of criminals who "did their time" really didn't do much at all.

Compare that to a lifetime of hurt caused to the victim(s) and their families, and it just doesn't seem good enough.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Enough for what? Your sense of vengeance? I don't know, only you can tell... Enough for rehabilitation? I don't know, but it is possible. Time needed for rehabilitation varies widely. It's quite possible the year was enough. One thing we do know is that the Netherlands is heavily in favour of rehabilitation over punishment, since rehabilitation actually forwards society

[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 months ago

I am European and heavily against punitive justice. But I think one year of prison for a crime almost universally considered among the worst is not enough for rehabilitation, and I find this opinion validated by the lack of understanding or even remorse shown by the guy in public statements

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (4 children)

This is exactly the point I'm trying to make, but am getting downvoted because I apparently sound like a "child rape apologist".

I understand the crime is emotionally charged, but that doesn't mean anyone convicted of it should just be thrown in the oubliette.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

I would like to propose “forgettamatorium” as an English translation for oubliette.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I believe people can change and I think it’s important we hold space for people to do so. However, that hinges on the person actually growing, which often starts with showing remorse. I know you implied that this guy has done so, but I haven’t seen any evidence of that.

Even the quote you posted somewhere else about it being the worst thing he’d done, or something like that? That very much sounds like a, “I’m not sorry I did it, I’m sorry I got caught” kind of statement.

Asked if van de Velde had ever expressed any remorse to him for rape, Immers [his teammate] said: “No, he doesn’t, he doesn’t explain it.” (source)

"I have been branded as a sex monster, as a pedophile," he said. "That I am not — really not.” (source)

If there’s an apology or some actual statement showing his remorse, I’d love to see it, but I’m skeptical that it exists. This whole controversy he’s had a huge opportunity to step up, apologize, and rebuke his prior actions. Instead, he’s faced it all with silence and a reaction of ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ That is not the behavior of a person who acknowledges they were in the wrong, imo.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Seems like this whole debacle is because he didn't make a press tour saying to the whole wide world how remorseful he is, but the comittee said that experts determined that he was remorseful though, so we shouldn't trust the experts now?

Van de Velde has fully engaged with all requirements and has met all the stringent risk assessment thresholds, checks and due diligence. Experts have stated that there is no risk of recidivism.

Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent about the case which he refers to as the most significant misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved. He has been open about the personal transformation he has undergone as a result. Since his return he has participated in major international events without incident.

from https://nocnsf.nl/en/nocstarnsf-takes-measures-to-ensure-a-safe-sporting-environment-for-all-olympic-participants

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

The problem is that people absolutely believe that.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I agree, it seems like a small amount on the face of it.

But at the same time, I'm more inclined to trust the judgement of the prison system (at least in The Netherlands) as to whether he is ready to return to society.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

It's not the prison system of the Netherlands that you should be considering, It's the legitimacy of the politicians that decided to release him. Clearly it was a political move do you believe that somebody else in his position would have been released so early?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

While I agree this seems extremely small. The netherlands is not the US. The specifics of court cases are not made public. We have no idea about them. It might be a very ambiguous case that barely fit the definition of rape or whatever.

Not trying to defend rape or rapists, but we may need more context before we can judge the length of a sentence.

Edit: I just read a less opinionated in depth article on him, and from the details I see, man he fucked up bad, in my opinion he deserved more than 13 months. He got sentenced to 4 years at first but that got cut short.