Journalist likens Dutch-Turkish to fascists, blames them for arrest
On Tuesday Dutch journalist Ebru Umar published her first column in Metro Nieuws following her arrest in Turkey on Saturday. She lashes out against Dutch-Turks, who she blames for her being stuck in Turkey.
"CONGRATULATIONS with your completely failed Dutch citizenship", she wrote. "CONGRATULATIONS on your loyalty to a couple of mountain goats from Turkey, goat fuckers if you will, who you follow as soon as they call for NSB (a former fascist party in the Netherlands, ed) behavior. (...) I congratulate you Dutch-Turks on your NSB behavior You are the reason I am stuck in Turkey."
Umar was arrested in Turkey on Saturday for insulting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter. She was released again on Sunday, but is not allowed to leave the country. Her Amsterdam home was broken into during the early hours of Monday morning.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte denies allegations from opposition parties that the Netherlands is taking a "cowardly attitude" surrounding the arrest Umar. According to the opposition, the government is afraid to act because they don't want to harm the asylum agreement with Turkey.
"That suggestion is completely incorrect. This is about fundamental values like freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Those are non-negotiable", the Prime Minister said in response, according to the Telegraaf. "We are not letting ourselves be influenced in any way by the fact that other interests are also in play."
Songul Mutluer, PvdA councilor in Zaanstad, is concerned about the split Umar's arrest and an email the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam sent to Dutch-Turks asking them to report insults to the country and its president, is causing in the Turkish community. "It is black and white, you're for or against Erdogan. That worries me", she said to broadcaster NOS. "I know people who were cheering at the arrest of Umar. But I also know people who are concerned about the developments in Turkey and are even afraid to be arrested because of comments on social media if they are there on vacation."
