The Netherlands government has informed Iraq that it was “very indignant” over Baghdad’s persistent refusal to permit its representatives to visit Alexander Aharonson and would exert extreme diplomatic pressure if necessary to secure access to the Dutch-born Jew. The Dutch authorities want to confirm that Aharonson is, in fact, alive.
A Baghdad news agency reported last month that he had been hanged on charges of having been a spy for Israel, Iraqi authorities subsequently denied that the execution had been carried out but have refused to permit visits to Aharonson by either the Dutch authorities or representatives of the International Red Cross.
Nicolaas Van Dijl, director of the Asian and African division of The Netherlands Foreign Ministry, told the Iraqi Charge d’Affaires at The Hague that the Dutch authorities want to confirm whether Aharonson was in fact hanged or whether he is still alive.
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