A majority of the House of Representatives wants to make necrophilia (sexual acts with the body of a deceased person) a criminal offense. The cabinet is also positive about it, but is still holding back.
Last year, at the request of the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Scientific Research and Documentation Center (WODC) conducted research into making necrophilia a criminal offense. In December the advice was that this should be punished more severely.
The Netherlands is one of the few European countries where necrophilia is not officially punishable. However, this does not mean that people will not be punished for it, emphasized the then Minister Ferd Grapperhaus (Justice and Security) earlier. They are prosecuted for, for example, grave desecration or vandalism. In addition, it often occurs in combination with murder or manslaughter.
Nevertheless, the House wants necrophilia to be explicitly punishable. “Necrophilia is a serious violation of the physical integrity of the deceased,” said PVV MP Lilian Helder last week in the parliamentary debate on sexual violence and child abuse.
She filed a motion to make necrophilia a felony in the Penal Code. She also wanted it to be included in the new sexual crimes bill. But during the debate it became clear that this would delay the bill.
Yesilgöz does not want to rush things
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted on Helder’s amended motion. In it, the cabinet is only called on to include necrophilia in the Penal Code.
Minister Dilan Yesilgöz (Justice and Security) is positive about this, but does not want to rush things. Moreover, she wants to keep the space to make a different decision. In March, the government will respond to the advice of the WODC and the motion of the House.
