Dutch security service raises alarm over Iranian regime’s threat to diaspora
The Dutch security service AIVD has raised serious concerns about the growing risks faced by Iranian dissidents in the Netherlands. A new report, set to be discussed in the Tweede Kamer on Thursday, reveals that the Iranian regime is intensifying efforts to silence critics living in the Netherlands, using tactics such as intimidation, surveillance, and targeted violence, including assassination attempts.
The AIVD states that the Iranian government has been relying on various methods to target Iranian activists and critics in the diaspora. This includes using proxies, such as criminal organizations, to carry out operations, which allows the regime to deny responsibility for violent acts abroad.
The report highlights a troubling incident from last summer in Haarlem, where Iranian activist Siamak Tadayon Tahmasbi survived an assassination attempt. While the attackers were arrested, Tadayon expressed frustration that Dutch authorities had not investigated potential links between the attackers and the Iranian government. "Protection is still lacking," Tadayon said, criticizing the lack of a broader investigation into the attack.
The AIVD also referenced the 2015 and 2017 murders of Iranian activists, which were believed to have been orchestrated by Tehran using organized crime methods to avoid detection. These cases illustrate the regime's ongoing use of violence to silence political opponents abroad.
The use of proxies by the Iranian government is a growing concern, according to the AIVD. These third-party groups, including local criminal organizations, carry out operations that endanger individual safety and undermine the stability of democratic institutions in countries like the Netherlands. The report argues that this tactic allows Iran to interfere without direct accountability.
The VVD, the ruling party in the coalition government, is seeing a rise in support due to its strong stance on defense and security. As concerns about foreign interference grow, voters seem to favor the VVD’s approach to protecting the Netherlands from such threats. The party is currently polling between 25 and 30 seats, up from its current 24 seats in the Tweede Kamer.
Meanwhile, the far-right PVV is losing support, with recent polls showing a drop to between 28 and 34 seats, down from the 37 seats it holds. The BBB, once a powerful political force, is also losing ground, with its support dropping to 2 to 4 seats, compared to 7 in the previous election. The shift in voter support highlights how security concerns, including the threat posed by foreign governments like Iran, are shaping Dutch politics.
