Muslims in the Netherlands fear that a good result for Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) in next week’s parliamentary elections could fuel suspicions and sour community relations.
In the local elections in March, the anti-Islam party scored its first victory in new town Almere, with 21.6 percent of the vote, and came second in the political capital The Hague.
These were the only municipalities in which the Freedom Party fielded candidates. The elections took place just weeks after the coalition government collapsed after a row over extending the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan.
These were the only municipalities in which the Freedom Party fielded candidates. The elections took place just weeks after the coalition government collapsed after a row over extending the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan.
The result dented the Netherlands' reputation as a tolerant society, and, with parliamentary elections less than a week away, Muslims are still reeling from the after-effects.
Fear
"We are all afraid of what might happen," Amina Taha, 57, a Kurdish-born, naturalised Dutch citizen, told AFP.
"We are all afraid of what might happen," Amina Taha, 57, a Kurdish-born, naturalised Dutch citizen, told AFP.
"If Muslims and others move too far apart," she warned, "they are bound to end up warring."
The Freedom Party, which currently has nine of 150 seats in parliament, is predicted to win 17 seats next week, making it the country's fourth biggest party.
"We don't hurt anyone. We just want everyone to live together in peace," added Taha, who speaks Dutch and proudly wears a headscarf – a garment Mr Wilders wants to discourage with a "head rag tax."
Mr Wilders, who is due to stand trial in October accused of religious insult and inciting anti-Muslim sentiment, is campaigning for a ban on headscarves for public servants, a halt to immigration from Muslim nations, and a moratorium on the construction of mosques.
In the past, he has described Islam as a fascist religion and called for a ban on the Koran, which he has likened to Hitler's Mein Kampf.
"Muslim people in Almere are looking differently at their indigenous Dutch compatriots since the Freedom Party’s election success,” Shangram Karim, the leader of Almere’s Dutch Muslim Party, told AFP.
"People are thinking: 'My neighbour, or someone in my street, probably voted for the Freedom Party and therefore against me."
Almere has an unusually high proportion of immigrants. A third of the population in the country’s fastest-growing city has a foreign background, compared to the Dutch average, which nationwide is 20 percent of a population of 16.5 million.
Hurt
"It really hurts that so many people seemingly feel about us the way Wilders does," said a 36-year-old Muslim woman of Moroccan origin who refused to give her name.
"It really hurts that so many people seemingly feel about us the way Wilders does," said a 36-year-old Muslim woman of Moroccan origin who refused to give her name.
"If Wilders does well in these elections," she cautioned, "I predict there will be widespread disappointment among people of immigrant origin. This will in turn breed mistrust, and mistrust undermines friendship."
Wilders’ supporters, on the other hand, say the government has let them down.
"I will vote for Wilders because he stands for freedom," Brian van Rooyen, a 25-year-old window cleaner, told AFP.
"The current government is allowing so many foreigners into our country who get everything for nothing. They get housing while we have to work for it."
Other PVV supporters in Almere said their "demonised" leader's proposal to create city commando units would have been the answer to their security worries. They blame a perceived rise in street crime on youths of Moroccan and Turkish origin.
Despite the party's initial successes, however - it also won five of the Netherlands' 25 European parliament seats last year - it remains politically out in the cold.
Although the Freedom Party was the largest in Almere, it was unable to form a coalition with other parties as it was unwilling to compromise on some of its more controversial policies. In The Hague, national political parties are not keen to include the anti-Muslim party in formation talks after the election. Nevertheless some parties have not ruled the option out.
"I would have preferred for him to have gone into government in Almere," said Karim. "This would have enabled the Netherlands to see he has nothing to offer, that he has no solutions."
Based on an AFP report
Based on an AFP report
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Why is it that a friends was asking if he should move to Oopsdorf? not sure of the spelling there, and he was told, its ok if he isn't a Jew or looks too American? because it's a muslim area.
I take this to mean that the people there are going to act violently for no reason. This is barbaric behavior and is not expected at all from people who are allowed to enjoy the wonderful Dutch society as I wish I could.
Geert does pose a threat to disturbing the overall peace in Dutch society with his rhetoric and rantings, however as a political force his control and image as leader of the PVV is on the wane. With the losses of the number 5 and 11 canidates on his electoral list, Geert is being exposed as the incompetent and unable party leader and organizer that he is. Although the PVV may garner a few more parliamentry seats this election, the party and Geert are still nowhere near the overpowering influence in a coalition government they promised their supporters to be. Those who fear the outcome the PVV may command from the political process should take a step back in a state of calm, and not allow any sense of panic to ensue. The Netherlands is still a finely respected democracy with a constitutional monarchy to protect the rights of citizen and subject alike. Geert has reached the peak of his power with the PVV and now must face a decision to start again or to continue along the same embarassing path his antics have led him to so far.
Mike112: I believe your argument and Jasmin's have several elements that are acceptable. Firstly (Jasmin's argument), yes, perhaps the immigrants are being judged too harshly, but they should realize why that is. It is imperative to recognize that many immigrants, not only in the Netherlands but also in other countries like the U.S or Switzerland (to name a few), do not adapt to the society they moved to. They want the benefits and the "blessings" of the country they immigrated to, but they want to keep their old customs; even if they clash with the society they now live in. Adaptation is crucial, if you go to another nation, adapt to it, otherwise stay in your home country; it is not fair to the natives that new people come and want to live the same way they did halfway across the globe. As to the natives, they should respect certain differences, because it is obvious that people from other nations and sometimes even other regions within the same nation, have different customs; respect should exist but also without compromising the cultural elements that define their native status. There should be a balance, Immigrants: respect the country you live in, for it is giving you a better life than the one you had in your country of origin. Indeed, immigrants can still follow and respect some of their traditions, but without affecting the natives, speak your native language at home if you desire, but teach your children to love and respect the country that is giving them so many benefits. Natives: do not fall into xenophobia, accept others and respect them and thus they will respect you in return.
Instead of playing a blame game, the Dutch natives and immigrants should do some soul-searching. The immigrants should introspect as to why are they not welcome, instead of reacting violently; and the natives should introspect as to why are they judging them too harshly. Balance is the key to a happy community where each can learn from the other. Sometimes we are ourselves at fault and blame the other person. Distance yourself from the core issues and see things objectively, the results are surprisingly pleasant as we learn to rectify our behaviour. Then you do not need Imams and Wilders to tell you how to live your life.
Well, the whole reason Wilders is so populair is that the dutch people are sick and tired of getting put last and immigrants come in and "Get" everything, ok, but then they come here, so in all fairness adapt to the country you are going too, dont beat your wives, dont terrorize the streets, dont think of the people who already lived there as dogs, headcloth, sure when it is raining but not in public establishments, we do not want cops with headcloths we do not want to go to a supermarket and get helped by people wearing one AND ESPECIALLY not burka, we dont want burkas in our swimmingpools because why would we? WE arent allowed to wear something longer then over your knees, and they can wear swimming burkini's?, nahh it has gone far enough, is it not the constant whining off those people about how they are beeing discriminated and so on while THEY call our woman bitches and hookers as soon as the girls dont want to have anything to do with them, Islam wise, the MAJORITY of the people who live in holland that are islamic say to kill, to not adapt and everything else "Not Dutch" and they are almost getting heartattacks about the PVV.....it escapes me because the PVV said NO MORE INTO OUR COUNTRY and the people who behave a.k.a DO not terrorize the streets or kill people out of vengeance AND have the dutch AND another passport of original country will get thrown out of holland as it should be, but that is something they dont hear, they hear something against muslims and they freak out like cats on catnip but then in a bad way... They are NOT welcome because of that, you come to the Netherlands cause it is better here right? then please if you do respect the dutch way of life and dont make mosqs and broadcast that brabbeling over the speakerphone, thank you, most dutch people already have churchbells to ruin a day... PVV is GOOD for everyone who lives in holland and adapts, do not try to change it, this is what will happen and "certain" people will be clueless why it does ;) have a nice day
From 2 South Africans living in Vienna we have to say: "Mike112, we LOVE your letter, and your good humour".
I believe your argument and Jasmin's have several elements that are acceptable. Firstly (Jasmin's argument), yes, perhaps the immigrants are being judged too harshly, but they should realize why that is. It is imperative to recognize that many immigrants, not only in the Netherlands but also in other countries like the U.S or Switzerland (to name a few), do not adapt to the society they moved to. They want the benefits and the "blessings" of the country they immigrated to, but they want to keep their old customs; even if they clash with the society they now live in. Adaptation is crucial, if you go to another nation, adapt to it, otherwise stay in your home country; it is not fair to the natives that new people come and want to live the same way they did halfway across the globe. As to the natives, they should respect certain differences, because it is obvious that people from other nations and sometimes even other regions within the same nation, have different customs; respect should exist but also without compromising the cultural elements that define their native status. There should be a balance, Immigrants: respect the country you live in, for it is giving you a better life than the one you had in your country of origin. Indeed, immigrants can still follow and respect some of their traditions, but without affecting the natives, speak your native language at home if you desire, but teach your children to love and respect the country that is giving them so many benefits. Natives: do not fall into xenophobia, accept others and respect them and thus they will respect you in return.
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