The Netherlands is not paying for Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s round the clock security now she lives in the US because it does not have the authority to do so, aid minister Bert Koenders told tv show Pauw & Witteman on Monday night.

Koenders was responding to French criticism of the Netherlands’ decision last year to stop paying to protect the former MP and outspoken critic of Islam. Hirsi Ali told supporters in Paris at the weekend she wanted to become French.
‘The Netherlands does not have the authority to protect her abroad and nor does the French government,’ Koenders said. He admitted the Netherlands’ reputation had been tarnished by the affair but said that was no reason to take action.
‘Hirsi Ali is protected in the Netherlands. She chose to go to the US,’ he said.