He doxxed an Israeli-Dutch woman who had a mandatory service requirement in Israel, as well as information about her mother.
By Shula Rosen
A Dutch court in Utrecht sentenced rapper and activist Appa to 40 hours of community service for publishing personal information about a Jewish woman and a journalist in violation of the Netherlands’ anti-doxxing law.
Appa, the stage name of 43-year-old Rachid El Ghazoui, received a sentence that includes 20 suspended hours and a two-year probationary period. Prosecutors had requested 60 hours of community service, but the judge imposed a lighter sentence because Appa had no previous record for similar offenses.
The law under which he was convicted took effect on January 1, 2024, and prohibits sharing private information as a means of intimidation or harassment.
In March 2024, the Amsterdam-based rapper posted photographs and sensitive information on Instagram about an Israeli-Dutch woman who had a mandatory service requirement in Israel, as well as information about her mother.
His posts included hateful captions and an appeal to followers to “fight”.
A journalist with Dutch public broadcaster NOS subsequently wrote two articles about the case.
Appa then published the journalist’s photograph online, accompanied by the text: “… and that is why you are making a fool of yourself, just like that terrorist.”
Both the woman and the journalist received online threats and hateful messages following the posts.
Appa told the court that he had been seeking information about the Jewish woman because he was considering legal action against her.
Regarding the journalist, he maintained that his intention was to correct reporting that he believed was false.
The judge rejected those explanations, finding that Appa’s conduct amounted to illegal intimidation and violated the woman’s privacy.
The case marked an application of the Dutch anti-doxxing law introduced at the beginning of 2024.
Under the ruling, half of Appa’s 40-hour community service sentence will remain suspended during the two-year probationary period.
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