The Dutch ambassador to Pakistan, Ardi Stoios-Braken, is apparently being threatened by Islamists in Pakistan. "In fact, there are threats," confirmed a spokeswoman for the Dutch Foreign Ministry AFP news agency. The security of the diplomatic mission and its staff is currently "the subject of discussions between the Netherlands and Pakistan".
At the end of August, Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders had canceled a planned competition for Muhammad cartoons following massive protests by Islamist groups in Pakistan. Instead, the MP published several drawings on Twitter. He also provoked the rage of radical Muslims in Pakistan.
In a letter issued on October 29 by media from both countries, the Pakistani Interior Ministry warned plans of supporters of the radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) to avenge Dutch ambassador for the "blasphemous cartoons" on Wilder's Twitter account. A spokesman for the TLP denied that the Dutch Ambassador was threatened. The TLP does not attack anyone, he said: "We are a pacifist movement and believe in dialogue". The Dutch Embassy and the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs were initially not available for comment.
The TLP stands behind the recent days-long protests in Pakistan against a decision by the Supreme Court to overturn the death sentence against the Christin Asia Bibi for blasphemy. Leading TLP officials called for the assassination of the judges involved in the ruling and the uprising of the military. As a result, the government in Islamabad agreed with the TLP on Friday that the Islamists can appeal and Bibi is banned from leaving the country.