LONDON (PIC AGENCIES)– Dr. Basem Naim Minister of Youth and Sport in the PA unity government who was on his way to attend a conference on Palestinian refugees in the Netherlands was turned back on Friday by Belgian police.
Dr. Naim who arrived at Brussels on board an Egypt air plane on his way to Holland was prevented from disembarking by Belgian police.
In a phone call to al-Jazeera Arabic satellite TV Dr. Naim said that he was treated in a “provocative and inappropriate” manner by the Belgian police who did not even allow him to leave his seat.
He was told by the Belgians that his visa was cancelled but he told the Arabic channel that ministry officials were in touch with Dutch government on Thursday about rumors that the minister’s visa was cancelled and they were told that the visa was not cancelled.
Mr. Majed al-Zeer Director of the London-based Palestinian Return Centre told PIC in a phone call that there was no truth to claims that the Dutch withdrew the Minister’s visa and expressed surprise and shock at the behaviour of the Belgian authorities considering the fact that the Minister had a valid visa and that he had no intention of disembarking on Belgian soil.
Mr. Zeer added that he considers the incident a slap on the face of every Palestinian.
