The extreme right-wing group Voorpost disrupted an experimental session of a Shari'a court in the Amsterdam cultural and political centre De Balie on Tuesday evening.

Footage shown on Wednesday by local TV station AT5 shows activists occupying the stage with a banner reading "Stop the Islamisation of the Netherlands".

The session was intended as a one-off experiment to gain insight into the development and operation of a court based on Islamic Shari'a law. Members of the public were invited to put cases while qualified judges passed judgement.

On its website De Balie writes that Shari'a courts are regarded with some horror in the Netherlands and the experiment was aimed at determining whether they are so undesirable and if they might not serve a role alongside the existing justice system.

Voorpost is clear in its opposition: "Shari'a is entirely contrary to our norms and values and therefore poses a threat to our democratic society."

De Balie was not prepared to say whether it would be taking action against the protesters.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide