MPs call for hearing on Turkish tensions, want prime minister to act

MPs are calling for prime minister Mark Rutte and his deputy Lodewijk Asscher to speak out against the rising tension between different Turkish community groups in the Netherlands.

In addition, they plan to hold a parliamentary hearing after the recess to look at the links between Dutch Turkish groups, their funding and Ankara, broadcaster RTL news said on Thursday.

‘Where are Rutte and Asscher?’ D66 parliamentarian Sjoerd Sjoerdsma is quoted as saying. ‘Given the tensions, we should be hearing from them.’

MPs from the ruling VVD and the Socialist Party have also said the cabinet is lax in its approach. They say Asscher in particular has taken far too long to implement an investigation into Turkish community groups, as demanded by MPs earlier this year.

Christian parties CDA and ChristenUnie also support calls for a hearing, RTL said.

The Labour party says it will wait for the official request to be drawn up before it decides whether or not to support the move. However MP Ahmed Marcouch does want a hearing about the rising tension and the intimidation between supporters of the Turkish government and its opponents.