Journalist behind Hague jihadist stories fired

Trouw newspaper has fired the journalist who is thought to have fabricated sources and articles. An independent committee will examine the validity of the journalist's stories. According to a communication from the editors today in the newspaper, "serious doubts as to the correctness and even the existence of the established sources" arose last month. The newspaper was unable to verify various sources. Although the newspaper did not mention the name of the editor, at the request of his/her lawyer, NOS and GeenStijl reports that it is Perdiep Ramesar. He wrote many articles about jihadists in Schilderswijk, the Hague. His piece on "the Sharia triangle" in Schilderwijk entitled "If your area becomes a small caliphate" caused a great stir and was adopted by many media. NL Times wrote two articles on the Sharia triangle, which can be read here and here. Ramesar also appeared in various television and radio programs as an expert in the field of Dutch jihadists. The journalist won several awards for his articles on Schilderswijk. For his pieces about the neighborhood, Ramesar spent at least two days a week walking around the "forgotten triangle" speaking with dozens of local residents, young people, volunteers and professionals. Many's full names were not given. Ramesar earlier also wrote pieces on the victims of loverboys in Rotterdam. It is not clear which of Ramesar's articles are questioned. On Nos Radio 1, Trouw-chief editor Cees van der Laan called the affair particularly painful for the newspaper, for the editors and for the readers. The independent commission which will investigate the matter consists of Egbert Myjer, Vice President of the Council for Journalism, and Professor Jeroen Smit. The two will investigate the facts and circumstances of the publications and make recommendations for future procedures.