Verdonk means business

Although I can't imagine why some of her admirers call her a 'babe' (take a look at this picture, she's the not so fragile woman in the middle), I can't say I mind our immigration secretary Rita Verdonk cleaning house in several Dutch mosques. Four Wahhabist imams are slated to have their residence permits withdrawn. One of them didn't live here anymore, but nevertheless: good riddance, and don't let the door hit you on your way out.

The fine gentlemen and -women of this law firm (previously known to have defended Pim Fortuyn killer Volkert van der Graaf, suspected Al Qaeda member Mullah Krekar and Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan) will make an attempt to appeal at least two of Verdonk's decisions. I am all the happier for it. It's a good thing to live in a country where people who would gladly deny everyone rights to due process, nevertheless retain the right to a hearing with an impartial judge themselves. Or make that 'judges', as they will have the right to appeal their appeal as well, and after that to appeal the appeal to their appeal (yeah, I'm getting a headache too) in Strasbourg at the European Court of Human Rights.

Excessive rights of appeal? Not really. If democracy is to fight these bigots, this is the only way to do it, lest we become what we are combatting.

(BTW, this is the lawyer who will do the honours. Luckily he doesn't come across as slightly overbearing in the picture.)

10:52

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