Meet Dilan Yeşilgöz, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Activist turned politician
Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, a Dutch politician of Turkish origin, has been a member of the House of Representatives for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) since 2017. She is also a former activist who fought for the rights of Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands.
Early life and activism
Yeşilgöz was born in 1977 in Istanbul, Turkey, and moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was four years old. She studied law at the University of Amsterdam and worked as a lawyer before becoming involved in politics. In 2005, she founded the Dutch-Turkish Platform, an organization that advocated for the rights of Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands.
Yeşilgöz's activism focused on issues such as discrimination, hate speech, and the integration of Turkish immigrants into Dutch society. She also worked to promote dialogue and understanding between the two countries.
Political career
In 2017, Yeşilgöz was elected to the House of Representatives for the VVD. She has served on the committees for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Security, and Social Affairs and Employment.
Yeşilgöz is a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy, and she has been critical of the Turkish government's crackdown on dissent. She is also a supporter of the European Union and has called for closer cooperation between Turkey and the EU.
Personal life
Yeşilgöz is married and has two children. She is fluent in Dutch, Turkish, and English.