In late May of this year, the Dutch Ministry of Immigration (IND) froze approximately 125 visa applications for Iranian students. “It is because of new sanctions of European Commission against Iran.” Sander Eijk, IND spokesman told Persian Dutch Network on Monday 11th June. “We froze the applications and are waiting for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make the final decision”.

Since last week, the Persian Dutch Network has received messages from Iranian students in The Netherlands. They are worried for their residency and studies. The students are surprised that they have been targeted for sanctioning rather than the Iranian government.

A 27-year-old Persian student from Eindhoven writes to PDN: “My educational background and current activity/role is really far away from the nuclear energy improvement process. But still the Dutch government does not distinguish among cases and keeps all Iranian cases who applied for study/work/extension on hold. Why?? Because in other parts of the world some idiots may misuse nuclear energy…where are HUMAN RIGHTS”?.

The IND spokesperson told the Persian Dutch Network, “We just follow the EU regulations and if anyone is going to make a complaint they should address the European Commission or the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs…Iranians are welcome in The Netherlands, but they but they need to meet the EU regulations”.

Source : Persian Dutch Network