Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
- Credit: Recep Tayyip Erdogan (source: commons.wikimedia.org)
Politics
Bert Koenders
CDA
d66
Emrullah Cuma Akgunduz
insulting a friendly foreign head of state
ministry of foreign affairs
PvdA
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Rotterdam
SP
Turkey
Turkish consulate
Turkish consulate email
VVD
Friday, 22 April 2016 - 08:09
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Dutch MPs press Turkish consulate over Erdogan insults issue

The Turkish consulate in Rotterdam stated on Thursday night that an email sent to Turkish-Dutch asking them to report incidents in which Turkey or its president are insulted, was a misunderstanding caused by an employee that made a mistake. A majority in parliament finds this explanation insufficient and are demanding further clarification, NOS reports. According to the consulate, one of its employees made the wrong word choices in the email, giving the impression that Turkish-Dutch are called on to report insults. The call was not their intention. Ruling coalition VVD and PvdA and opposition parties CDA, SP and D66 don't believe that explanation. They are calling for further clarification. "It is not credible to me. The call came from the consulate and it was widely distributed", SP parliamentarian Sadet Karabulut said tot he broadcaster. PvdA parliamentarian Marit Maij also can't believe that the mail was an accident. "It is good that the government will request clarification from the Turkish authorities." Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that he will make inquiry with the Turkish authorities. As things stands now, this is still his intention. Turkey is not planning to press charges of insult and defamation in the Netherlands, despite a sharp increase in the number of "hate mail" the Turkish Embassy in The Hague is receiving, press officer Emrullah Cuma Akgunduz said to the Volkskrant. He did not give a reason for why no charges are being pressed. According to him, hate mail to the embassy increased sharply following German comedian John Bohmermann being prosecuted for insulting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Over the past few weeks Erdogan was described as a "fascist like Hitler" and a "fucking faggot" that must be killed, in emails the embassy received.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Shell counting day: 48,000 seashells counted on Dutch beaches
  • Michelin-starred restaurants fully booked despite high inflation
  • Crash involving three Porsches leaves four Dutch people dead in Germany
  • Six police officers suspended for inappropriate statements during Oranje match
  • Shell: Gas field in Groningen must be completely closed this year, in light of earthquakes
  • Childhood trauma affects women differently than men later in life, study finds

Top stories

  • Childhood trauma affects women differently than men later in life, study finds
  • Scientist Rebellion activists blindfold statues in the Netherlands, including Rembrandt statue
  • Suicide a growing trend as more young adults end their lives
  • 104 XR climate activists arrested at Eindhoven Airport; All detained XR protesters free again
  • Beginning of Spring: March exceptionally wet and quite gloomy this year
  • TikTok bringing massive queues to trendy spots in Amsterdam, annoying neighbors

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content