Dutch investigative reporter Wil van der Schans has won a freedom of information case against the Dutch Intelligence Service. He had requested access to documents concerning the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Initially he was denied access, but now he has successfully appealed the decision.

Mr van der Schans is editor of OnJo, a cooperative venture which produces investigative reports for Dutch public television. His request to access information about the Iraq war was initially declined because the Davids commission was conducting an investigation on the role of the Dutch government at that time. The Davids commission, appointed by the cabinet, presented its findings last January, in which it criticised the Dutch government's decision to politically support the war.

The watchdog which oversees Freedom of Information Act requests on intelligence documents disagreed with the decision to withhold the information. It did not believe that the work of the Davids commission would be adversely effected if the documents were accessible to the press at the same time. This gave Mr van der Schans grounds for an appeal.

The OnJo editor believes that his triumph sets an important legal precedent. “It means that an inquiry committee cannot interfere with the freedom of the press,” he told Dutch press agency ANP.

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