At the regular Turkey-EU parliamentary meeting, Dutch MP Barry Madlener once again criticized the curtailing of free speech in Turkey. 

During a debate with Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs, Madlener noted that he does not wish to see Turkey in the European Union. He said that Islam prohibits the criticizing of religion. And these words by the Dutch MP infuriated Bagis, Milliyet daily of Turkey informs.   

To note, at the time of the Turkey-EU parliamentary meeting in November 2011, Barry Madlener wished to present a cartoon to Egemen Bagis as a gift, but the latter refused it saying he already has many cartoons at home.