Wilders and Van Grieken condemn “cowardly cancellation” of UvA interview in open letter to rector
PVV leader Geert Wilders has sharply criticised the cancellation of the campus interview with Vlaams Belang chairman Tom van Grieken in a full-page advertisement in AD. In an open letter to rector magnificus Peter-Paul Verbeek, the two politicians accuse the university of “censorship” and “intellectual cowardice”.
In an open letter in Algemeen Dagblad, Flemish nationalist politician Tom van Grieken and PVV leader Geert Wilders sharply criticise the UvA. In the paid advertisement, addressed to rector magnificus Peter-Paul Verbeek, the politicians condemn the cancellation of a campus interview with the Vlaams Belang leader.
Folia reported earlier last week on the cancelled Room for Discussion interview with Van Grieken. The interview had been scheduled for 23 April on the Roeterseiland Campus, but was cancelled by the organiser. A UvA spokesperson said the decision was made after a “broad assessment”: the “required impact and resources” to facilitate the conversation with Van Grieken were considered too great. According to members of the platform, safety played an important role. The university stated that safety was just “one aspect” of a broader assessment.
“Cowardly cancellation”
Wilders and Van Grieken focus strongly on the safety aspect in their letter. They describe it as a “cowardly cancellation” in which the university “bows to activist pressure and left-wing intimidation.” As a result, “millions of Dutch and Flemish people are being reduced to second-class citizens.” There is, however, no evidence that the interview was cancelled due to concrete pressure or threats. As a facilitating party, the university is responsible for safety measures and associated costs.
The right-wing politicians argue that the UvA should have done more to allow the interview with Van Grieken to go ahead. They describe the university as a “left-wing filter bubble” and call for an end to “academic cowardice.” Addressing outgoing rector magnificus Verbeek, they say: “Anyone who restricts free debate is no defender of democracy, let alone in a moral position to lead a university.”
Wilders previously also raised the issue of the cancelled interview in the House of Representatives: together with party colleague Annette Raijer, the PVV leader submitted parliamentary questions on the matter. Forum voor Democratie has also asked questions to Minister Rianne Letschert.
