No place for anti-Muslim hate
Some people will say that the person who set the fire at the unfinished addition to the mosque in Gouda was confused. And maybe he was. What isn’t confusing, however, is that there is an atmosphere in the Netherlands where hate and prejudice directed at Muslims both individually and as a group is acceptable.
Many of the ideas are straight out of the far right playbook: that Muslim immigrants pose a particular threat to Dutch society, that Muslims “will replace” the idealized Netherlands of the past, and that Islam is inherently violent and threatening.
Meanwhile, mosques are threatened, women in hijab are harassed, and, most recently, insulting letters were sent to several mosques and a man set a fire at the mosque in Gouda. We are concerned about the demonization of Muslims and immigrants from Muslim countries, and stand in solidarity with our Muslim siblings as they strive to find a place in the Dutch community.
This is particularly important for us to express as Jewish people. Our history clearly demonstrates how precarious it can be to be marginalized in European society. We call for stronger condemnation of violence and discrimination against the Muslim community in the Netherlands.
We call on all the civil society, political parties, and individuals in the Netherlands to take a clear stance against the violence and threats faced by the Muslim community here.
