Netherlands: Investigative Journalist Stella Braam Surveilled by Dutch Intelligence Agencies For Over 3 Decades
Location: Netherlands, Amsterdam
Date: September 18, 2022
Investigative journalist Stella Braam has disclosed that Dutch intelligence agencies surveilled her for 31 years. Stella resigned from her post at The Investigative Desk, an independent cooperative of specialized investigative journalists, after learning that she was under surveillance from 1986 to 2017, and quite possibly till this day, out of concern for her sources. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) denounces the surveillance and data collection by Dutch Intelligence and Security Services.
The CFWIJ stands firmly that data collected on her and her sources should be destroyed, with measures taken to ensure that she will not be the subject of future surveillance. We extend support to Stella and call on Dutch intelligence services to launch an investigation why the journalist was subjected to undue surveillance and scrutiny.
On August 28, 2022, nearly two months after the General Intelligence and Security Service, or AIVD, complied with Stella’s request to review her personal file, the journalist revealed that the intelligence had been surveilling her from 1986 to 2017. During these years, Stella reported extensively on the activities of the Turkish ultranationilist group Gray Wolves in the Netherlands, and Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party, according to news reports and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The journalist disclosed that on June 2, AIVD followed through on her request and handed her own personal file, containing a 300-page, mostly redacted document about surveillance carried out on the journalist by AIVD and its predecessor organization, BVD, for around 31 years. According to Stella, any Dutch citizen can seek their files from the intelligence service but the law allows the intelligence services to withhold information from the last five years prior to the request. Consequently, Stella only had access to the years between 1986 and 2017, but suspects that the surveillance has continued since then.
Stella was compelled to resign from The Investigative Desk as she felt her professional reliance as a journalist had been compromised. “There’s a very good chance that I’ve compromised my journalistic sources and chances are I’m being followed to this day,” said Stella, adding that she intends to take legal action to make the agency destroy all data it collected on her and stop any ongoing surveillance.
On September 6, news reports cited AIVD communications head Inge Oevering as saying that Stella’s name did come up on the agency’s radar during its surveillance of the Gray Wolves, but that “does not justify the conclusion that we have investigated her”. He was further quoted as saying that the intelligence service could not confirm or deny whether Stella specifically was under surveillance.
Intelligence authorities maintained that the file on Stella was of interest due to her contacts in immigration circles. Stella said the documents revealed that intelligence agents had spoken to anonymous sources about her but the content of those discussions has been redacted. “Who were these sources, and what did they say?” she said. “This is terrifying. I cried and then I got angry. What possessed the secret service? Why am I dangerous to the state? I’ve written all my life on important social issues, hoping to move society forward. Apparently, the state thinks otherwise.” We at CFWIJ would also like to know. Stella has committed herself to investigative journalism to be a progressive addition to society, why was she subjected to decades of surveillance and scrutiny?
Thomas Bruning, secretary general of the Dutch Journalists Association, seconded Stella’s concerns regarding her sources. “Stella Braam's name is contaminated and she can no longer do her job properly."
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the Dutch Intelligence Agencies actions and calls for a transparent investigation to reveal the cause for their surveillance. We understand that there are previous accounts of journalists being monitored in the Netherlands and that the AVID sometimes works with journalists. However, the scope of this legal practice remains unclear pointing to a need for clarification from the Dutch Intelligence agencies and AVID, both of whom have declined to comment. We stand opposed to the consequences imposed upon Stella Braam’s career and profession as a journalist and express our utmost support. We will be monitoring this case for updates.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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