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Tuesday, 19 January 2016 - 14:40
Police visit Twitter user over angry statements on migrants
A verbal protester against plans for an asylum center in Sliedrecht got a visit from the police on Monday, warning him to be careful of what he says on Twitter. Mark Jongeneel was at work when a police officer showed up at his door. "He told me to watch my words if I tweet about plans for an asylum center", he said to AD
Over the past few days Jongeneel posted tweets about plans to open an asylum center for 250 people in Sliedrecht. The city council is discussing these plans on Tuesday night. On Twitter Jongeneel argued against a referendum, among other things, and wondered whether there is support for the center in the town. As hashtag he used a PVV leader Geert Wilders favorite #kominverzet, roughly translates to "resist against".
"I was given to understand that one could point to me if something goes wrong with the council meeting, a brick through the window or something", he said to AD. "I would egg on the bunch and incite them, said the police officer. These are DDR-situations. Intimidation, because I've never been in trouble with the police and then suddenly there's a police officer at the door. But I won't be censored.
Jongeneel was on the electoral list for the PVV in the Provincial Council elections last year. He believes that Mayor Bram van Hemmen is responsible for the unexpected visit. On Facebook he thanks the mayor for the media attention.
Parliamentarians Louis Bontes and Joram van Klaveren submitted written questions to Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice on the matter. They want the police to stop with the "intimidating behavior".