Prize-winning Dutch writer fails citizenship test

A Dutch writer of Iraqi descent, who won the European Union (EU) Prize for Literature on behalf of the Netherlands last month, failed his citizenship test, Dutch media reported on Friday. Rodaan Al Galidi got 70 percent of the 30 questions right, below the required 74 percent, the Volkskrant newspaper said. The writer had to go through a complete integration course, the newspaper said. He came to the Netherlands in 1998 as a refugee from Iraq and was allowed to take the fast-track test to prove he had mastered all aspects of Dutch society. The writers criticized the questions raised in the 45-minute test. "I had to wait nine years in a refugee centre to prove I was a refugee. Then I get 45 minutes to prove I am a good citizen? That's bit of a shame," he said.