French cannot protect Hirsi Ali in US

Wednesday 20 February 2008

Former Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali would not be entitled to French state protection in the US even if she was to become a French citizen, reports ANP news service, quoting the French foreign affairs ministry.

The French government can only pay for security to citizens on home soil and to diplomats abroad, the foreign ministry is reported as saying in a statement on Wednesday.

Diplomatic sources have confirmed that the French have made the situation clear to the Dutch government on an informal basis, says ANP.

Hirsi Ali’s life has been under threat since the murder of Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh in November 2004. Hirsi Ali and Van Gogh worked together on the controversial short film Submission about the subjugation of Islamic women.

Hirsi Ali has lived and worked in the US for more than a year and until October 2007, her security was paid for by the Dutch government.

Last week she appealed to the European parliament to pay the costs of her security following an initiative by French Euro MPs.

© DutchNews.nl

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