Ongehoord Nederland (ON) takes a “sharp distance” from the threats that NPO board chairman Frederieke Leeflang has received. The broadcaster writes this in a short statement.
“The board of Ongehoord Nederland has taken note of reports that people would be threatened with regard to the investigation into our broadcaster,” ON says.
“We are not aware of any possible perpetrator(s) or the backgrounds of the sender(s). Ongehoord Nederland distances itself sharply from any threat, both physical and verbal, towards journalists or people working in the media.”
Wednesday evening it became clear that Leeflang is being protected because of threats. These may come from sympathizers of the ON, sources report to the makers of the BNR podcast Koster and Van Dijk.
The NPO wants to impose a sanction on ON because, according to the ombudsman, the broadcaster has violated the journalistic code of the NPO. The NPO has only confirmed that Leeflang is being secured.