Amsterdam, Holland - A Dutch court has ruled in favour of a group of 4 alleged Satanists, who were charged with the premeditated murder of an unborn foetus in the context of a ritual sacrifice. The Satan-worshippers were discovered in April in the crypt of an Amersfoort cemetery while performing the ‘rite’. Although they don’t deny that the abortion was performed in the context of a ritual baby-sacrifice, they didn’t break any laws, was argued in their defence. They were found not-guilty on the grounds that the cemetery is on public land, that all persons present were willing participants, and that it is “not nor ever will it be dictated by law what a woman must do with her own body. [...] As long as the sacrifice is performed according to medical standards of practice and doesn’t violate any other laws, there can be no legal objection. This is a court of law, not a church.”

The defending attorney closed with these bold remarks:
“The growing population of Satanists is swiftly approaching that of other minority religions in this country. We have to take their rights seriously, even if their practices seem to us archaic, insensitive, and dare I say, un-Western. To deny them the right of child sacrifice – as practiced in accordance with existing laws – would be like denying a Christian the right to hold mass. This is blatant discrimination. You wouldn’t ask a wolf, however politely, to become a vegetarian. [...] Birth and death are very often given a religious context. It doesn’t matter what that context is, so long as the law is upheld.”

The “doctor” in the incident (a retired surgeon) may still be charged separately with medical malpractice, as he was operating with an expired license. He plans to defend himself on the grounds that the state did not make sufficient provisions for the practise of his religion, which drove him to conceal his actions. The law does provide for medical procedures to be performed outside of a hospital, but this usually applies to emergencies. However, the religious context of the procedure “puts this case in a whole new playing field,” as one commentator observed. He says this was the first time he had participated in this kind of sacrificial rite, but that it is “much more common than people think. I’m not some kind of extremist.” He also plans to file a counter-suit for libel.