In an online manifesto, some thirty politicians, journalists and administrators express support for the death-threatened writer Lale Gül. Signatories include ChristenUnie party leader Gert-Jan Segers, author Tommy Wieringa and cartoonist Ruben L. Oppenheimer. There is also support for the writer from the Catholic Church and the Jewish community.
Since the release of her debut novel I’m going to live and the media attention for the book, 23-year-old Gül is threatened and receives hate messages on social media. The novel is about her strict Islamic upbringing in Amsterdam-West. The author is critical of many Turkish and Islamic traditions.
“In the Netherlands, we make our own choices. We determine how we want to live, and with whom. What we want to say and how. You don’t have to earn freedom, you have it when you live in this country. Regardless of your background. your origin, your philosophy of life. Also Lale Gül “, is stated in the manifest on the website LaatLaleVrij.nl.
‘She felt very alone’
The online manifesto is an initiative of Bert Bakker, former Member of Parliament for D66. He says he has closely coordinated the idea for the manifesto with Gül. “I presented it to her at an early stage. She really wanted it. After that, not anymore, because of all the threats, but she recently got back from that.”
The manifest does not call for concrete measures. “It is purely to ensure that as many people as possible express support for her,” says Bakker. “She felt very alone lately. I saw that happening on television and I was excited about the great silence in politics.”
Political support
In addition to the party leader of the ChristenUnie, politicians from VVD, D66 and the CDA have also signed the manifesto. Among them are CDA Member of Parliament Pieter Omtzigt, VVD Member of Parliament Dilan Yesilgöz, former State Secretary Fred Teeven (VVD) and Member of the Senate for D66 Boris Dittrich.
Bakker: “Today’s politicians have to speak up. Everyone who lives in the Netherlands has the freedom to choose. To say and write what he or she wants. I do not understand that left-wing politicians do not want to say that in black and white.”
The Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, who is in the city council and on Instagram recorded for Gül, has not yet attached her name to the manifesto. “I have not yet received a response from her,” said Bakker.
Incidentally, PvdA prominent Khadija Arib wrote two weeks ago a column in which she stood up for Gül. SP leader Marijnissen left after the manifesto was published on Twitter know that Gül deserves support. “Draw too,” she wrote.
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