Ongehoord Nederland (ON!), Arlette Adriani, Joost Niemöller and Raisa Blommestijn #wingnut #conspiracy #racist nltimes.nl
MPs from PRO, CDA and D66 are calling for broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland (ON!) to be expelled from the Dutch public broadcasting system following comments made during one of its discussion programs suggesting Adolf Hitler had been right on some issues. The online show Let’s Twist Again examined one of Hitler’s speeches and debated whether his opposition to globalism had been justified
The clip shows Hitler speaking out against what he calls a “rootless international clique,” after which someone in the audience shouts “Jews!” Presenter Arlette Adriani then asks editor-in-chief Joost Niemöller and presenter Raisa Blommestijn whether they agree that “the cosmopolitan elite is inherently hostile to ordinary, rooted people.” Both panelists say they agree
MPs Mohammed Mohandis of PRO, Harmen Krul of the CDA and Ouafa Oualhadjo for D66 accused ON! of downplaying Hitler’s actions in the clip and said such content has no place in the public broadcasting system. They have asked Education, Culture and Science Minister Rianne Letschert to address the issue in parliamentary questions[…]
Letschert is considering what should happen to ON![…]She is expected to inform parliament of her decision before the media debate at the end of September. Although the Dutch Public Broadcasting system has not asked the minister to intervene, she has other options available, including taking action through the Dutch Media Authority
Ongehoord Nederland acknowledges that the Hitler segment did not sufficiently take into account the sensitivities surrounding the subject, general director Peter Vlemmix said
According to Vlemmix, Blommestijn and Niemöller clearly condemned the atrocities committed under Hitler. He said the two also expressed their disgust with the Nazi regime and its “barbaric consequences.” Vlemmix added that neither suggested that Hitler’s actions should be excused or glorified
Vlemmix nevertheless acknowledged that ON! should have handled the subject more carefully