Nora flees to Germany with children after benefits affair: 'Wants to take control of my life back'

ZOETERMEER - She has had a successful driving school in Zoetermeer for several years when Nora Ghazoun suddenly receives a message that she would have committed fraud. Her teaching cars are confiscated and if she later runs into financial problems, child protection is around the corner. “They said they would take my children immediately,” she says. “That weekend, I fled to Germany very quickly.”

Nora (52) is one of the victims of the benefits affair. Now, almost fifteen years later, she is still fighting for just compensation for what was done to her. “The impact on my family's life is huge and the compensation they offer doesn't even cover the babysitter's costs,” she says.

To draw attention to the situation of thousands of affected entrepreneurs, Stichting Herstel Onbekend Inrecht, which includes the Interest Group for Duped Entrepreneurs Surcharges, presented a petition to the House of Representatives this week. “I want to be restored for my company that I lost,” says Nora.

Impact on her family

She talks about the impact that the affair had on her family. “As a single mother, I started a driving school in Zoetermeer in 2004. That went well, because I was busy and there was even a waiting list. '

In 2011, the news suddenly arrived that turned her whole life upside down. 'I received a message from the tax authorities that I had to repay almost 60,000 euros. I was shocked because even though things were going well, I didn't just have that money in the bank. '

No driving lessons without cars

She cannot conclude a payment arrangement; she has to pay the entire amount at once. “My cars were sold and I had no money left. I couldn't go on either, because without cars, it's difficult to give driving lessons,” she says cynically.

Nora is no longer able to pay her rent and after three months, the housing association informs her that she must leave her home. On a Friday afternoon, child protection services are also suddenly around the corner. “Without any foreword, they were there. That they came to take my children because I no longer had a home. '

I quickly sent my children a message that they were not allowed to come home

Nora Ghazoun

Luckily for Nora, her kids were playing outside at the time. 'I quickly sent them a message that they were not allowed to come home. I told Child Protective Services that they were staying, and they said they would come back to get the children on Monday. '

That weekend, Nora makes a drastic decision. 'I packed clothes and important papers and fled to Germany with my children. ' There, among other things, they live in a mobile home without a shower for months.

Son taken away for 24 hours

Nora cannot escape the problems in Germany either. “My youngest son was taken away for 24 hours. Fortunately, the judge eventually prevented this and said I could keep my children, but the impact on the family has been enormous. '

After ten years, Nora decides to go back to the Netherlands, after finally recognition is for the victims of the Benefits affair. “My daughter did not come along. He no longer spoke Dutch well enough and doesn't trust it here anymore. She is still studying in Dortmund today. '

No regulation for entrepreneurs

Although there is recognition for the victims, there is still no regulation for the entrepreneurs. “We are seen as people on welfare and not as entrepreneurs. We only get the minimum, while we want to get back in control of our own lives. '

Nora has already gone through a mediation process to get what she believes she is entitled to. “After nine months, they came up with an amount that is ridiculous.”

Limited legal aid budget

As a result, there is actually only one route left for Nora. “That's going to court. But that is also a problem, because this requires a lawyer. And the lawyers we can get through legal aid all have a limited budget. So a lawsuit costs at least 10,000 euros, money that, of course, we don't have. '

That is why Nora and other entrepreneurs sounded the alarm once again and offered a petition to the groups in the House of Representatives.

Above all, she hopes that there will be a good settlement soon, so that her family can get back to life. “They've been destroying us for 15 years, trying to take my kids away.”

Can't start over

And then she also lost her company. “They've always said they're going to pay for the actual damage. Well this is my big damage. I can't start over either, because, for example, I can't take out a loan to buy a car to teach driving again. This wasn't a problem before, but now it's not possible. '

It makes her despondent. “They just want to support our emotions, but they don't provide serious recovery. We're just not being taken seriously. '

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