A 41-year-old musician is on trial in the Netherlands after a foundation dedicated to bringing together children born through artificial insemination sued him. Jonathan Jacob Meijer is accused of having fathered at least 550 babies in various countries, raising serious questions about the risk of incest.

Jonathan was banned from making any more sperm donations in 2017, as legislation in the Netherlands prevents sperm donors from participating in more than 25 pregnancies.

He did not respect the order and continued to promote his donations internationally, even through a website, which he says is now closed.

On Thursday, the defendant appeared in court to defend himself against the charges.

"I'm sorry that you present me as a rabid bull with a breeding desire," the man said.

Jonathan's defense also reacted to the lawsuit, which they called an "attempt at legal castration".

The case originated from a complaint by a mother, supported by the foundation DonorkindShe claims that the defendant deceived her by telling her that he didn't intend to have more than 25 'children', the limit set by the law in that country.

The defendant told the court that he provides "a service with added value" because he keeps in touch with the children he helped to raise. He also attends births, birthdays and even hands out school diplomas.

The foundation that went to court called the case "a strange social experiment" and called on judges to impose a fine of 100,000 euros every time Jonathan reoffends, both in the Netherlands and in other states.

Donorkind also requested that all of the defendant's sperm samples be destroyed, with the only exception being cases where the mother wants to give her child a biological sibling.

Anonymous donations have been banned in the Netherlands since 2004 and there is a national database with medical information and information of any kind that may be relevant to the children who are born.

When they reach the age of 16, babies born this way can access all the information.

Source: SIC News