Vonnis (2026)

An Imam and a Humanist provide spiritual support in a prison. An interesting subject in itself, and that was precisely the reason I wanted to see it. But the documentary started chaotically, fragmentarily, and above all, too artsy. Gradually, however, a story did build up, and the humanist, in particular, came to take center stage. A man who actually had his own reasons for doing this work. In my view, not a good reason, by the way. It reminded me of when I was at the SPH (Social Pedagogical Assistance). There were people there too who studied because they had problems themselves, and apparently hoped that the study would enable them to help themselves. Fortunately, those people are picked out very quickly, because at that stage they are still unsuitable to become care providers. And I felt somewhat the same way about that humanist. That man still had to process something himself before he could help those prisoners. It was nice, though, that the documentary built towards that point, because it made it a bit more interesting than I had expected at the beginning. And the Imam seemed much more self-assured. At least, that is how it came across to me. But beyond that, I was also surprised by the kind of people who end up in prison. I found it truly shocking to hear someone say that the person who had filed a complaint against him was taking revenge on him. In my opinion, that shows you have no idea what you are doing, and you are rightfully in prison. To accuse someone who is simply seeking justice of taking revenge. Unimaginable. So, apparently, that is how it works in the mind of a criminal.

Translated from Dutch · View original