Tunahan Kuzu
Tunahan Kuzu | |
---|---|
![]() Tunahan Kuzu in 2021 | |
Member of the House of Representatives | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 20 September 2012 | |
Leader of DENK in the House of Representatives | |
In office 9 February 2015 – 21 March 2020 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Farid Azarkan |
Member of the municipal council of Rotterdam | |
In office 22 May 2008 – 27 September 2012 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Istanbul, Turkey | 5 June 1981
Political party | Labour Party (2012–2014) Independent (2014–2015) DENK (2015–present) |
Residence | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
Alma mater | Erasmus University Rotterdam |
Tunahan Kuzu (born 5 June 1981) is a Turkish-born Dutch politician. He is a former member of the Labour Party (PvdA). He has been an MP since 20 September 2012. On 13 November 2014 Kuzu and Selçuk Öztürk left the Labour Party and formed the Group Kuzu/Öztürk, later renamed DENK ("Think").[1] On 18 November 2014, he became Parliamentary group leader. In the 2017 Dutch general election, the party secured three seats in the House of Representatives.
Early life[]
Kuzu grew up in Maassluis and studied public administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He worked as a health care advisor for PricewaterhouseCoopers, and was also a member of the municipal council of Rotterdam from 2008 to 2012.
Controversies[]
![]() | This article's Criticism or Controversy section may compromise the article's neutral point of view of the subject. (May 2021) |
Relations with Israel[]
Kuzu attracted international attention in September 2016 when he refused to shake the hand of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu before a meeting at the States General of the Netherlands. In a statement posted to Facebook Kuzu explained his action as a protest against human rights abuses committed against Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian territories.[2][3]
In May 2019, during a visit to Jerusalem to learn about the situation of the Palestinians in Israel, Kuzu was held up on the Temple Mount while carrying a Palestinian flag. According to Farid Azarkan, Kuzu was "taken by a large group of heavily armed soldiers". Kuzu was not arrested, however, he was stopped and released after an hour.[4]
References[]
- (in Dutch) Parlement.com biography
- ^ Two Turkish deputies expelled from Dutch labor party; Today's Zaman; 14 November 2014
- ^ Mackey, Robert (7 September 2016). "Anti-Racist Dutch MP Refuses to Shake Netanyahu's Hand". The Intercept. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ Sims, Alexandra (14 September 2016). "Dutch MP refuses to shake hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Kuzu met Palestijnse vlag staande gehouden in Jeruzalem". nos.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- 1981 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Dutch politicians
- DENK politicians
- Dutch management consultants
- Dutch Muslims
- Dutch people of Turkish descent
- Dutch political party founders
- Erasmus University Rotterdam alumni
- Independent politicians in the Netherlands
- Labour Party (Netherlands) politicians
- Leaders of political parties in the Netherlands
- Members of the House of Representatives (Netherlands)
- Municipal councillors of Rotterdam
- People from Maassluis
- Turkish emigrants to the Netherlands
- Labour Party (Netherlands) politician stubs