After all, the request is not only aimed at ties with organisations in Israel; it is also aimed at ties with Dutch and international organisations involved in religion, remembrance or combating anti-Semitism. All fourteen Dutch universities will refuse this part of the request. The special universities are not obliged to comply with the Wob request and therefore do not have to do so for that reason alone, but fully support this refusal.
Universities in the Netherlands contribute to pluriformity and freedom in the Netherlands and beyond. We strongly reject unequal treatment on the basis of religion or origin. We stand for a safe working environment for all our staff and students and the possibility of being an academic community that does not exclude anyone and in which no distinction is made on the basis of religion or origin. Targeting a specific group of citizens, including staff, students and alumni of our universities, creates feelings of insecurity, injustice and discrimination. We will not participate in this.
Position VU Amsterdam
The VU Amsterdam Foundation aims to contribute to a better world, a world in which justice, humanity and responsibility for each other and the world are central. As a special university, VU Amsterdam is not obliged to comply with the Wob. Nevertheless, VU Amsterdam often cooperates with Wob requests for the sake of transparency. VU Amsterdam has informed The Rights Forum that it will not be processing this Wob request at all, because of the reasons mentioned in the joint statement of the fourteen universities.