Secretary General calls on Dutch government to respond to concerns about problematic website

22/02/2012

The Dutch government to clarify its position regarding a website sponsored by Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch political party PVV

Thorbjørn Jagland 

Strasbourg, 22.02.2012 - In a letter to Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has requested the Dutch government to clarify its position regarding a website sponsored by Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch political party PVV.

The website is widely regarded as xenophobic because it solicits and disseminates negative reports about citizens of central and eastern European countries working in the Netherlands.

While emphasising the right to freedom of expression, Jagland questioned the website saying "I am concerned because it is hosted by a political party which is linked to the governing coalition".

The SG expressed the hope that the Dutch government will publicly distance itself from the content of the website.

Netherlands and the Council of Europe 

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