Dutch MP demands answers over police response to Hajar’s disappearance before her murder
In the Netherlands, the murder of 29-year-old Hajar, found in a suitcase in Amsterdam, has taken on a new political dimension. A member of parliament is asking the government to explain why her disappearance was initially classified as non-urgent, despite distress messages sent by the young woman of Moroccan origin.
Why did the police not immediately try to locate Hajar’s phone? What further information was needed to consider her in danger? These are among the thirteen questions addressed on October 28 to Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel by Ismail el Abassi, an MP from the DENK party.
In this official document from the House of Representatives, the parliamentarian recounts the events of October 4. At around 11:15 a.m., Hajar is said to have sent an alarming message to someone close to her: “Help me. Now. He’s killing me.”
After trying unsuccessfully to reach her, her relatives alerted the police at around 8:15 p.m. Her disappearance was then classified as non-urgent, as the authorities have confirmed.
The family, which had already criticized the police response, says they were told to wait 24 hours. The MP wants to know whether this instruction was actually given and on what basis.
Why weren’t the distress messages enough?
On its official website, the Dutch police nevertheless point out that the first 24 to 48 hours are crucial when someone goes missing and recommend reporting it without delay.
In a statement published on October 22, investigators say they reassessed the situation on the evening of October 5. They then tried to locate Hajar’s phone and searched a building in Amsterdam-Buitenveldert.
However, a fact established since then by the public prosecutor’s office changes the timeline of the tragedy: Hajar had been killed in the early afternoon of October 4, several hours before her family reported her missing. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service confirmed this on October 23.
Her body was found on October 16 in a suitcase submerged in the Amstel. A 23-year-old man was remanded in custody on suspicion, among other things, of murder or manslaughter and of disposing of the body.
On Bladi.net : Missing Amsterdam Woman Found Dead After 12-Day Search
The MP is now calling for an assessment of the decisions made by police officers, particularly in the first hours after the alert. He wants to verify whether procedures were followed and to receive the findings of the review in Parliament.
