Tuesday, May 16, 2006
MP lied in asylum bid
Some say she should be expelled from parliament; her political rivals demand she should also be stripped of her Dutch citizenship and deported.
This is exactly the line Hirsi Ali's own party, the right-wing VVD, has taken on immigration.
The party has introduced tough new citizenship criteria and is at the head of a drive to expell 26000 failed asylum seekers.
It has said that any foreigner found to have lied should be prohibited from holding Dutch citizenship.
She admits lying in her asylum application in 1992 but maintains this was already public knowledge when she was chosen as a VVD candidate in 2002, adding that she is the victim of a political vendetta.
Rita Verdonk, VVD Minister for immigration, last night said a full investigation had been launched.
"Laws and rules are valid for eveyone," she insisted.
Well, that remains to be seen, doesn't it, Ms Verdonk.
But don't think we're going to let you forget you said that if it transpires that "laws and rules" are more "valid" for some than for others.
Read the full story by Isabel Conway in the Independent.
This is exactly the line Hirsi Ali's own party, the right-wing VVD, has taken on immigration.
The party has introduced tough new citizenship criteria and is at the head of a drive to expell 26000 failed asylum seekers.
It has said that any foreigner found to have lied should be prohibited from holding Dutch citizenship.
She admits lying in her asylum application in 1992 but maintains this was already public knowledge when she was chosen as a VVD candidate in 2002, adding that she is the victim of a political vendetta.
Rita Verdonk, VVD Minister for immigration, last night said a full investigation had been launched.
"Laws and rules are valid for eveyone," she insisted.
Well, that remains to be seen, doesn't it, Ms Verdonk.
But don't think we're going to let you forget you said that if it transpires that "laws and rules" are more "valid" for some than for others.
Read the full story by Isabel Conway in the Independent.
