{"id":134357,"date":"2021-12-16T12:38:47","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T11:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=134357"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:03","slug":"virologist-koopmans-is-fed-up-with-threats-rector-expresses-her-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/12\/16\/virologist-koopmans-is-fed-up-with-threats-rector-expresses-her-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Virologist Koopmans is fed up with threats, rector expresses her support"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe Christmas wishes are early this year\u201d, tweeted<\/a> renowned Erasmus MC virologist Marion Koopmans in a sarcastic tone, followed by a quote from a hate mail that contained a torrent of abuse and called her a \u201cfilthy, dirty monster of Dachau\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Marion Koopmans, celebrated for her ability to create global networks for the systematic and large-scale control of infectious diseases. <\/span><\/p>

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She followed this by tweeting \u201cShouldn\u2019t we really start taking action to combat this kind of thing next year?\u201d and tagged the Public Prosecution Service, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences KNAW, university association UNL and D66 leader Sigrid Kaag. \u201cI\u2019ve really had enough, to tell you the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve had enough too<\/h2>

\u201cWe\u2019ve had enough too and we are certainly willing to take steps (always in consultation with you), and that includes going to the police and the courts\u201d, replied<\/a> Pieter Duisenberg, chair of the committee of united universities, UNL.<\/p>\n

Annelien Bredenoord, Rector of Erasmus University Rotterdam, where Koopmans works, also tweeted her support: \u201cThreatening scientists is unacceptable. Threatening anyone is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

D66 leader Sigrid Kaag also received a threatening Christmas card in her letterbox at home (\u201cAs you can see, we also know where you live\u201d). She called on<\/a> the anonymous writers to send cheerful holiday greetings to lonely people instead.<\/p>\n

Last October, universities announced<\/a> that they intend to file police reports more often. They also published guidelines for dealing with threats and intimidation directed at scientists.<\/p>\n\n\t

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