For Kadu:Moroccan espionage affair escalates
Mr Lemhaouli (left) with Princess Máxima (NOS tv screenshot)
Rabat recalled two of its diplomats after the Dutch Foreign Ministry protested against reported attempts by the Moroccan secret service to recruit spies in the Netherlands. The ministry described the alleged espionage as "a dirty business". The diplomats were recalled several months ago, but the incident was not made known until this week when reports of the incident surfaced in the media.
Earlier this week, the Dutch current affairs programme NOVA reported that former police sergeant Ré Lemhaouli passed on confidential police information to the Moroccan secret service. A number of Dutch citizens of Moroccan origin later told the media that the Moroccan secret service had attempted to recruit them. The Dutch parliament will hold an emergency debate on the issue next week.
The sergeant was dismissed from the police force this summer for serious dereliction of duty following an internal investigation. After the news of the alleged spying appeared in the media, the Justice Ministry announced that it would not prosecute the police officer because there was insufficient evidence.
Political pressure
Two days later the Justice Ministry said it had changed its mind because of the publicity in the media and political pressure from The Hague. The Dutch National Department of Criminal Investigation will investigate reports that Mr Lemhaouli passed on confidential police information. And today the cabinet said Mr Lemhaouli could lose his Dutch citizenship.
Mr Lemhaouli, who continued to work at a project for disadvantaged youths at Rotterdam Airport following his dismissal from the police force, has now been sent on leave. His colleagues praised his work with school drop-outs and described him as a committed and inspiring leader.
He set up a project which has helped scores of disadvantaged youths obtain a diploma. His initiative was adopted by Princess Maxima and was named Project Maxima. In February the princess attended a ceremony at which 57 youths received a diploma. Mr Lemhaouli was photographed sitting between Princess Maxima and Christian Union Youth and Family Minister André Rouvoet.
Extremely discriminatory
The "espionage affair" has further heightened tensions in the Netherlands, where populist leaders and media are using language which is often extremely discriminatory. In parliament on Wednesday, Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders made a flaming attack against Moroccans and Mr Lemhaouli.
He said "Moroccans are colonising the Netherlands" and did not come to integrate "but to dominate and rule." De Telegraaf's report on Wilders' speech received nearly 1,500 reactions, the overwhelming majority of them in agreement with the populist leader. Mr Wilders also demanded that the former police sergeant be deported from the country.
On Thursday Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende berated the populist leader for blaming Moroccans for the Netherlands' problems, saying:"You shouldn't drive one group into a corner. Our strength does not come from propagating division."
That's why. And the majority of all crimes is being committed by those people (along with other non-Dutch groups).
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