Posted on 10/15/2005 8:02:04 PM PDT by NCjim
HOLLAND’S Muslims have responded with outrage to government proposals to ban the burqa, and there are fears that Rita Verdonk, the minister behind the move, will be added to a list of “enemies of Islam” targeted for assassination.
The country was on high alert yesterday after talk of a burqa ban coincided with the arrest of a group suspected of planning to murder two politicians.
Verdonk, known as “Iron Rita” for her hardline immigration policies, has been accused by Muslim groups of pandering to the far right by demanding an investigation into whether Holland should become the first European country to prohibit the burqa, a covering worn by some Muslim women that leaves only a strip of gauze for the eyes.
“A ban in certain circumstances seems quite sensible,” said a spokeswoman for Verdonk, who is minister of integration and immigration.
The investigation will include a study of how other European Union countries have dealt with the burqa. In Belgium some towns have imposed fines of £100 for women in burqas after complaints that the garments are “scary”, but no country has banned them.
Few Dutch Muslims wear a burqa, though the issue could prove explosive if Muslim radicals encourage their women to wear it in defiance of a ban.
For a country that has legalised gay marriage, prostitution, euthanasia and cannabis, Holland seems in no mood for compromise when it comes to applying tough laws on immigration.
A crackdown followed the murder last year of Theo van Gogh, the film-maker shot in Amsterdam in protest against a film he had made about the oppression of women in Muslim communities.
In a note skewered to Van Gogh’s chest, Mohammed Bouyeri, the 26-year-old killer who was jailed for life, left a list of “infidels” to be slaughtered, a threat that drove Geert Wilders, the conservative politician, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Muslim MP who appeared in Van Gogh’s film, into hiding.
They are under round-the-clock police protection but this has not stopped new death threats in the past few days. Last Friday police arrested seven people suspected of plotting to murder them and carry out other terrorist attacks on November 2, the anniversary of Van Gogh’s killing.
One of those arrested was Samir Azzouz, a 19-year-old of Moroccan origin, who in April was acquitted of charges of planning to attack Amsterdam airport and blow up a nuclear reactor. A spokeswoman for Verdonk acknowledged concerns that other supporters of Van Gogh’s killer might have added her name to the hit list.
The murder of Van Gogh provoked revenge attacks against mosques and prompted initiatives from Verdonk that have made Holland’s stance on immigration the strictest in Europe.
From being considered a bastion of multiculturalism, Holland these days is promoting “Dutchness” for all and penalties for people who refuse to fit in.
Verdonk, a former prison warden and head of state security who says her only hobby is work, has introduced Dutch language and culture classes for immigrants, who must pledge to observe the country’s liberal values even if this means respecting the rights of women and homosexuals, a baffling concept for some immigrants.
Verdonk, 50, the mother of two teenagers, has further outraged Muslims by expelling imams accused of promoting terrorism; defending a Dutch woman who ran over and crushed to death a Moroccan youth who had snatched her bag from her car; and cancelling a meeting with Muslim leaders who refused to shake her hand because she was a woman.
Another aspect of the crackdown was her order to revoke the residency permit of immigrants who commit petty crimes. Until recently the permits could be revoked only for serious offences like murder.
Verdonk declared in parliament last week that the “time of cosy tea-drinking” with Muslim groups had passed and argued that a ban on burqas might be needed in some circumstances on grounds of public safety. Police are concerned that a terrorist could use a burqa to conceal weapons or a bomb.
Members of the public have said that the burqa looks frightening and it was this that prompted Jan Creemers, the mayor of Maaseik in Belgium, to impose a ban in December 2004.
“Mainly old ladies would call me,” he said. “They were terrified, saying they had been sitting on a bench and when they turned around they all of a sudden saw these strange figures appearing all in black. They almost had heart attacks.”
Ebru Umar, a Dutch journalist and friend of Van Gogh, wrote recently on how she had confronted women wearing burqas and told them: “Why don’t you dress like me? You are scaring people.”
Muslim communities and human rights groups condemn the initiative. Nico Landman, an assistant professor of Islamic studies at the University of Utrecht, said a burqa ban might play into the hands of a small group of Muslim radicals. “They may actually encourage their women to wear burqas on the streets,” he said.
Immigration curbs
# “Dutchness test” requires immigrants to take classes in language and culture # Imams accused of promoting terrorism are expelled # Residency permits of immigrants accused of petty crime can be revoked # Visas for young brides marrying into closed immigrant communities will be reduced
"Verdonk, 50, the mother of two teenagers, has further outraged Muslims by expelling imams accused of promoting terrorism; defending a Dutch woman who ran over and crushed to death a Moroccan youth who had snatched her bag from her car; and cancelling a meeting with Muslim leaders who refused to shake her hand because she was a woman.
Another aspect of the crackdown was her order to revoke the residency permit of immigrants who commit petty crimes. Until recently the permits could be revoked only for serious offences like murder."
Good, good, good, good and GOOD!
GO RITA!
No kidding.
Holland and the rest of Europe for that matter, should take a lesson from Spain in the late 15th century. Expel the Muslims.
Though I agree with their new attitudes I find it interesting and comical that Holland is actually taking firm actions against radicals and immigrants. I had always thought the Dutch were pretty much the wet dream of liberals here and would accept and allow anything.
And that doesn't tell them something?
....a muslim doctor that was doing a biop on my husband last year refused to shake my hand, I was shocked! I thought most who lived in the USA were more Americanized than that. Guess not!
As I read the article, all I could think of is "You go, girlfriend!!!"
It's funny to read this and compare the inappropriate fear people in the US have for "ultra right wing fundamentalist Christians groups" and that for radical Muslims.
People put them in the same category. But the last time I checked, when you offend a fundamentalist Christian, they turn the other cheek, and maybe try to convert you. If you make a radical Muslim angry, they take your head off and make you dead.
, will be added to a list of “enemies of Islam” targeted for assassination. "
I would consider my name on that list as an honor. For the record I regard Islam as a Satanic force--literally.
I never thought that I would say we should be more like the Dutch when it comes to immigration
Go pro active and require Muslim to wear something insulting like clown shoes.
"I had always thought the Dutch were pretty much the wet dream of liberals here and would accept and allow anything."
And so they did, and look what happened! When that annoying Mr. Van Gogh was brutally murdered in the bright light of day they realized things had gone too far. Hey, the guy WAS annoying, but killing him was right out!
Wonder if Rita Verdonk can buy life insurance?
Y'gotta make a start somewhereÂ…
In a note skewered to Van GoghÂ’s chest,Â…
Think what you like; a guaranteed attention-grabber, that.
a Dutch woman who ran over and crushed to death a Moroccan youth who had snatched her bag from her car;
Giggle. Odds of recidivism: 1:∞
From being considered a bastion of multiculturalism, Holland these days is promoting “Dutchness” for all and penalties for people who refuse to fit in.
Several decades ago, here was this obscure little Austrian who operated along the same linesÂ…
When are the politicans going to wake and see this is a war between civilizations. It has been going on since Muslims invaded Europe (Spain and Turkey).
The last 500 years was a brief interlude, now we're continuing where we left off.
Think about it. What better way to identify and track radical muslims, muslims that refuse to integrate into the society they're living in, than by flagging the ones that wear burqas? It's as easy as tracking gang members by their tattoos.
Just track the burqa-clad ninnies back to their homes, and voila! You are almost guaranteed to have a potential male terrorist behind the closed doors.
Develop as much intelligence as you can about them, then, and only then, deport them.
"If you don't say we are a religion of peace, we will kill you" : Mohammedan
The problem is you don't know whats under that Burqa, how can you track them if their literally undercover? They may have dynamite strapped to them
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