Top of documentTHE HAGUE A 24-year old gay Iranian man, whose expulsion to Iran had been delayed at the request of openly gay member of parliament for D'66 Mr. Boris Dittrich, was arrested by Iranian police immediately after his arrival in Teheran. The Dutch committee that had tried to help the Iranian in his efforts to get asylum in Holland had warned Dutch authorities he might be in danger when sent back to Iran but when all legal possibilities to prevent expulsion were exhausted the committee decided to let the matter rest. The committee was informed of the arrest by members of the man's family. Mr. Dittrich could not be reached to comment on the matter. A spokesperson for the ministry for foreign affairs played down the seriousness of the situation saying that "we regularly get reports of people being arrested after having been sent back, but these reports are seldom true" and said the Dutch embassy in Teheran was looking into the matter but could not yet confirm or deny the report. The fact that the Iranian had sought asylum in Holland on the grounds . of his homosexuality was not considered relevant.
Top of documentAMSTERDAM Mr. Benno Premsela, one of the leading Dutch post-war gay activists and former chairman of the N.V.I.H.-COC (Gay liberation movement) on tuesday received an "anjer"-award for his work as an interior designer and as a gay activist from Prince Bernhard von Lippe-Bisterveld, prince-consort of former queen Juliana. The award is given to people from the world of art and culture who are "good, law-abiding Dutch citizens" as well. Mr. Premsela ("You probably recognize my face from police mug-shots"), remarked times must have changed as 25 years ago it would have been impossible for an openly gay man to have been honoured in this way. Mr. Premsela chaired the C.O.C. from 1962-1971, was one of the first in the Dutch gay movement to operate under his own name and in the sixties was the first gay man to be interviewed on the subject on Dutch tv.
Top of documentTHE HAGUE Fearing an influx of mainly Eastern-European transexuals the Dutch government has decided that foreigners, who want to undergo a sex-change operation in the Netherlands from now on must have a residence-permit. Secretary of Health Borst is going to take up the matter with Amsterdam's Free University hospital where a number of transexuals are being treated at the moment. They are only to be operated on when it's clear they can stay in Holland.