nrc.nl – International – Sacked Moroccan police officer leads to diplomatic row
nrc.nl – International – Sacked Moroccan police officer leads to diplomatic row
Morocco has withdrawn two diplomats from the Netherlands after complaints from Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen about “detrimental practices” by the Moroccan authorities two months ago.
The alleged offences are related to the case of a police officer in Rotterdam who was sacked this summer on suspicion of spying for the Moroccan secret service. The man was officially fired for “a severe breach of duty”. While it has not yet been decided whether to prosecute the man, the case has caused a political stir in the Netherlands.
Rotterdam city councillor Fouad El Haji (Labour) told Dutch television last night that the Moroccan secret service does try to recruit in the Netherlands. He said he himself had been approached by a network that protects Moroccan interests abroad. Members of parliament have demanded the government answer questions about the alleged pressure from Morocco on Moroccan nationals living in the Netherlands. An emergency debate on the issue will be held next week.
Meanwhile, the police are to investigate the former sergeant, who has both Dutch and Moroccan nationality. Earlier this week the chief public prosecutor in Rotterdam Henk Korvinus said that a report from the AIVD security service did not contain “enough leads” to prosecute the man. But the growing row has led Korvinus to reconsider his earlier decision.