Secret Turkish Intelligence Unit Operates From Embassy in The Hague,Targeting Dissidents Across Europe
The Hague,Netherlands – A clandestine intelligence unit operating within the Turkish Embassy in The Hague has been conducting intelligence gathering and operations across Europe,according to classified documents obtained by Nordic Monitor. The unit, led by Turkish Ambassador Fatma Ceren Yazgan, appears to be systematically collecting information on Turkish dissidents and transmitting it to local police forces for action, marking a significant escalation in Turkey’s transnational repression efforts.
The documents reveal a network extending beyond the Netherlands, raising concerns among European security officials about the scope of Turkish intelligence activities and the safety of individuals seeking refuge from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. This operation utilizes proxy groups like the Union for international Democrats (UID) - the primary organization operating on behalf of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) throughout Europe – and institutions such as the Maarif Europe Amsterdam training Centre to advance Ankara’s political and ideological agenda.
The establishment of a covert intelligence cell within a NATO ally’s embassy, and the subsequent relay of intelligence to local law enforcement, represents a breach of diplomatic protocol and raises questions about the integrity of diplomatic relations. European governments are now facing increasing pressure to respond to these activities, perhaps through expulsions, sanctions, or legal measures, to protect their sovereignty and the safety of exiled individuals.
Evidence suggests Yazgan, a former Turkish intelligence operative, hosted a meeting with the Dutch branch of the UID in October 2025. She was also photographed visiting the headquarters of the Maarif Europe Amsterdam Training Center, described as a proxy institution used to promote erdogan’s political Islamist agenda and export his party’s ideology. The classified documents provide rare insight into the operational details of Turkey’s transnational repression network, prompting urgent inquiries from Dutch authorities and other European governments regarding the extent of Turkish intelligence operations on their soil and the implications for the rule of law.
