More scrutiny of suspected Muslim extremists among asylum seekers

Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Asylum seekers who are suspected of Muslim extremism will be subject to a longer period of investigation during the application procedure, the Volkskrant reported on Tuesday.

The investigation could include a more extensive look into the person’s antecedents or a translation of Arabic texts on a phone, security and justice minister Ard van der Steur and junior minister Klaas Dijkhoff wrote in a letter to parliament.

The letter is a result of a recent report from the inspection of Van der Steur’s own department which said that people smugglers and terrorists could be among legitimate asylum seekers.

Refugees without a passport or with fake papers are not always screened to see if they may be dangerous and there is no time to check phones and laptops for potential criminal activity, the inspectors said.

Justice minister Ard van der Steur said at the time that these checks are made later in there asylum procedure. ‘The minister’s priorities are wrong,’ Labour MP Jeroen Recourt told the Telegraaf. ‘You have to combat terrorism immediately.’

The cabinet will be debating the screening of asylum seekers on Tuesday evening.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation