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Moroccan spying in the Netherlands: SP demands explanation from Interior Minister

15 September 2008

Moroccan spying in the Netherlands: SP demands explanation from Interior Minister

SP Member of Parliament Ronald van Raak has asked Interior Minister Guusje Ter Horst for an explanation of events surrounding the alleged handing over of secret information by a Rotterdam police officer to the Moroccan secret service. The information is said to concern radical Islamicist elements within the Netherlands' extensive Moroccan population. Van Raak wants to know what diplomatic steps the government has taken against Morocco in connection with the incident, and whether, aside from this event, police officers have been the subject of spying activities by other countries.

Ronald van Raak“In the fight against terrorism it's important that countries cooperate and share information," Van Raak acknowledges. "It is unacceptable that countries with which we are cooperating come here to spy, however. In the past it was clear that the United States conducted espionage here, and I also suspect Israel of this. Now it turns out that Morocco has been sniffing around. Spying by 'friendly' countries is often kept secret, in order not to damage relations, but I want openness over these espionage activities, so that measures can be taken to regulate them.”

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