Deputy PM: State sponsorship of jihadists must stop

Minister Lodewijk Asscher of Social Affairs wants to stop the violent jihad or other terrorist activities being funded by Dutch tax money. The government has therefore prepared legislation that should ensure that the payment of benefits or study financing to jihadists that travel to join ISIS in Iraq or Syria be put to a stop immediately, the Telegraaf reports. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, benefits, allowances or study grants can be an important source of income for jihadists. "I don not want an ISIS fighter to collect his study financing with his debit card in Raqqa." Asscher said. The current legislation allows benefits payouts to be stopped, but this often takes some time. Under the new legislation payouts can be stopped immediately once it is obvious that someone has joined the terrorist organization.