The Netherlands not being petty towards Hirsi Ali 12/02/2008 00:00
Minister Bert Koenders denies that the Netherlands is being stingy by refusing to pay for former MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali's personal police protection abroad.
12 February 2008
HILVERSUM – Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders denies that the Netherlands is being stingy by refusing to pay for former MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali's personal police protection abroad.
"The Netherlands does not have the authority to protect her abroad, nor does the French government," Koenders said on the television programme Pauw en Witteman on Monday evening.
He admits that the Netherlands' reputation could be damaged by the commotion about Hirsi Ali in France, but does not think that the Netherlands should do anything about this "damage to its image."
Hirsi Ali said last weekend that she would like to take French nationality. French intellectuals have criticised the Netherlands for not being willing to provide Hirsi Ali adequate protection.
The French president Nicolas Sarkozy announced that he will propose the establishment of a European fund to help people like Hirsi Ali who are threatened for championing freedom of expression.
Koenders does not think the Netherlands looks ridiculous because of the situation. "Hirsi Ali is protected in the Netherlands. She herself has chosen to go to the US." Koenders thinks France is "making a great fuss" about the matter.
[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2008]
Subject: Dutch news
1 reaction to this article
williams posted: 24-02-2008 | 4:07 PM
He is quite right. The Dutch Government has no obligation to spend TAX PAYER's Money on Protecting someone who does not even Live there and who has obtained that Nationality through LYING HER WAY.
Hirsi ALI has shown a trend here. She does not even write her own Books, but someone else is paid to write it for her and you had better find out WHO and why she goes on taking Credit for it.
Hirsi ALI has insulted the very people who gave her the very life she has now. Without the DUTCH giving her a place and nationality and opportunity and her biting their hands back , she would be probably Cleaning TOILETTS some other place.!!!. Or could have been a Suicide BOMBER !!! Who knows.
We appreciate She wishes to LIVE. She can Keep her mouth Shout like many others SHE HERSELF FORCES to do so for her to be out there. There are others who are beind SILENCED for this Woman to be in Public and that is what None knows and none is meant to.
Welcome to the land of Oppressed beginning to Oppress others!!!.
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