NETHERLANDS — Dutch police say they are reviewing an incident in Utrecht after widely shared video footage appeared to show an officer kicking one woman and striking another with a baton during an arrest near the “Bollendak” by Hoog Catharijne shopping centre. (Source – Politie.nl, January 28, 2026; NOS, January 28, 2026)

The footage circulating on social media, including Instagram, shows an officer leading one woman away while holding a baton, with a second woman walking close behind while filming on a phone. The officer then appears to turn and kick the second woman, before a chaotic struggle follows. (Source – NOS, January 28, 2026; RTL Nieuws, January 28, 2026)

NOS reported that the first woman shown being led away is “gesluierde” (veiled), and that additional clips from different angles show the officer using a baton during the confrontation and later as the woman is taken toward a police vehicle. (Source – NOS, January 28, 2026)

In a statement, Dutch police said the incident occurred at about 5 p.m. on Monday, January 26, after officers stopped someone for a reported nuisance incident involving a group of around 20 people. Police said a 23-year-old woman from De Koog was arrested on suspicion of insulting an officer, and a 39-year-old man from Rotterdam was also arrested on suspicion of insulting an officer and obstructing the arrest. (Source – Politie.nl, January 28, 2026; NOS, January 28, 2026)

Police said the images have raised questions and that the use of force will be “assessed and reviewed” through a standard process, including examining available footage and looking at what happened leading up to the moment captured on video. RTL Nieuws reported police had received no complaints or reports against the officer at the time of publication, and that the officer remained on duty while the review proceeds. (Source – Politie.nl, January 28, 2026; RTL Nieuws, January 28, 2026)

Muslim Communities Seek Clarity and Accountability in Netherlands

While the police statement did not identify the women’s faith, the presence of a visibly veiled woman in the footage has intensified concern among many Muslims in the Netherlands about profiling, the safety of visibly Muslim women in public spaces, and whether bias played any role in the escalation. A police spokesperson told NOS the footage has raised questions “including about racism,” and that those signals are being taken seriously as part of the inquiry. (Source – NOS, January 28, 2026; Politie.nl, January 28, 2026)

Community advocates and rights groups in the Netherlands have long warned that discrimination against Muslims—especially those who are visibly Muslim—can shape daily experiences in employment, education, and public life. A national study on anti-Muslim discrimination commissioned by the Dutch government found that Muslims report persistent discrimination and stigma across multiple domains, and that online hostility remains a significant factor in the broader climate. (Source – Regioplan/Ercomer, January 31, 2025)

The incident has also renewed debate about how public order policing is conducted in crowded transit and shopping areas, where tensions can rise quickly and bystander filming is common. Dutch police said the review will also consider the “run-up” to the incident, which is not fully visible in the short clips circulating online—an important distinction as videos often capture only a fragment of a longer interaction. (Source – Politie.nl, January 28, 2026; RTL Nieuws, January 28, 2026)

Separately, the Netherlands has a partial ban on face-covering clothing in specific locations such as public transport and buildings connected to healthcare, education, and government, but the law does not amount to a general street ban. The legal framework is frequently cited in public debates about visibility, identification, and public services, and it can intersect with community sensitivities when incidents involve women who wear religious coverings. (Source – Government of the Netherlands, August 1, 2019; Rijksoverheid, August 1, 2019)

Islamic and Ethical Context

Islamic ethics places strong emphasis on justice, dignity, and careful verification—principles that align with the public interest in a transparent, evidence-based review. The Quran repeatedly commands fairness in judgment and warns against letting anger or bias lead to injustice, a framing many Muslims invoke when calling for accountability without prejudice and without rushing to conclusions about facts not yet established.

In Hadith Books and The Seerah, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is described as upholding restraint and due process even under pressure, emphasising that authority is a trust and that harm should not be inflicted without right. In practice, that means Muslim communities can legitimately seek answers and safeguards—especially for women who are visibly Muslim—while also insisting on accuracy, lawful process, and equal standards of accountability for everyone involved.