DUTCH MP’S FURIOUS ABOUT PRESSURE FROM TURKISH AMBASSADOR


Date posted: July 27, 2016

JANENE PIETERS

Parties in the Tweede Kamer – the lower house of Dutch parliament – are furious about statements the Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands made pressuring the Dutch government to help hunt down supporters of the Gulen-movement. Numerous parliamentarians expressed their annoyance to NU.nl.

In an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS on Monday, ambassador Sadik Arslan stated that Turkey considers the Gulen-movement a terrorist organization and compared it to Islamic State. He repeatedly stated that Turkey is convinced the movement is behind a recent attempted coup in the country. According to him, there are Gulen-affiliated schools in the Netherlands, and the Netherlands is thus funding education institutions closely linked to an organization with “sinister plans”.

VVD parliamentarian Han Ten Broeke was first to respond. “The chance of extradition of anyone to Turkey is 0,0 and they have themselves to blame”, he said, according to NU.nl. “As long as Turkey ignores the rule of law and can not guarantee normal procedure, we can ignore such requests.” According to him, the “Gulen witch hunt” is not a matter for the Netherlands “What is our business is the arson, massive intimidation and the witch hunt the Dutch-Turks have on their conscience.”

“A ridiculous and inappropriate call that will only stir up tensions in the Netherlands”, D66 parliamentarian Sjoerd Sjoerdsma had to say. “The Erdogan regime must immediately stop the currently ongoing witch hunt and especially not export it to the Netherlands.”

PvdA parliamentarian Michiel Servaes called Arslan’s statements “inappropriate and unwise”. “The Netherlands loudly opposed the coup, but is quite rightly concerned about Erdogan’s countermeasures, which are putting the rule of law under pressure”, he said. “As far as the situation in the Netherlands is concerned, what we need now is peace and dialogue. And thus no statements that put further pressure on the relationship between Turkish Dutch. Of the Turkish ambassador I therefore expect that he speaks out against polarization instead of continuing to put antagonisms on high alert.”

“Like Turkey itself is so extremely busy. We fight against terrorism with Turkey. There we reach out our hand. But this is a domestic problem in which they already think they know who the perpetrators are”, CDA MP Raymond Knops said, according to the newspaper. “Then they themselves have to come up with the evidence. And they must show that they want to uphold the rule of law.”

Source: NLTIMES , July 26, 2016

Tags: | | | | |


Related News

Turkish witch-hunt against the Gulen movement lacks one thing: Evidence

Fethullah Gulen and his movement are being purged not for terrorism, but for being unwilling to mindlessly follow the new elite ISMAIL SEZGIN Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declares that the 15 July coup attempt was orchestrated by the Islamic cleric, Fethullah Gulen. Yet, there is little concrete evidence against Gulen. Instead, the government has […]

You cannot fool all the people all the time

In a panic to save its future, the Erdoğan government calling it a “parallel state,” an “illegal organization,” a “criminal gang,” a “web of treason” and “raving Hashashins” is attempting to collectively punish the Hizmet movement, whose establishments have significantly contributed to the betterment of the country in the fields of education, business, democratization, social solidarity and international relations.

GYV calls on President Gül to investigate interference with judiciary

Yeşil said the GYV is calling on Gül to take action to prevent these risks to the constitutional order, the separation of powers, checks and balances, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. He said: “The public expects him [Gül] to use his powers and authorities under the Constitution to investigate the interventions that sought to render the law dysfunctional, in terms of the graft and bribery investigations.

Hate speech in politics and media

It is hard to understand the relentless efforts of Turkish politicians and media networks to create new objects of hate, in contrast with the global and local struggle against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and similar approaches that pave the way for hate speech, hate crime and discrimination. Hate speech, mutually produced in the context of the developments following the Gezi Park protests in June, is concrete proof that we are making life in this world increasingly unbearable for one another.

Opposition, diplomats slam gov’t attempt to shut down Turkish schools

The government’s attempts to shut down Turkish schools abroad which are affiliated with the Hizmet movement, inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, have been severely criticized by opposition members and diplomats.

A Mother and Son Flee Istanbul for San Antonio

Before the live feed was cut from the Zaman building on that Friday in March, I watched police shoot rubber bullets into the crowd gathered to protest the paper’s seizure. Bloodied, the crowd retreated, still screaming for free speech but knowing hope was gone.

Latest News

Sacramento leaders gather for Iftar dinner in celebration of Ramadan

SEO Skill Suite: Tools for Keyword Research, Technical & Backlink Analysis

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

In Case You Missed It

27-Years-Old Mother With 11-Months-Old Son Found In Ankara’s Sincan Prison

TUSKON storm

HRW report: No evidence to accuse Gülen movement of terrorism

Hizmet-affiliated educational institutions succeed in TEOG exam

Kimse Yok Mu President: We are not leaving Somalia

Erdogan’s options: to propose and sponsor amendments at the US parliament or to provide evidence against Gulen

Hizmet Movement: Partners We Want

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News