Myrtus

The first immigrant/Moroccan Mayor in the Netherlands

Congratulations to Mayor Aboutaleb and good luck with the new job!

AD.nl - Rotterdam Stad

Netherlands' first Moroccan mayor inaugurated - Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Ahmed Aboutaleb has been inaugurated as Mayor of Rotterdam. He was sworn in by Royal Commissioner Jan Franssen, who remarked that "a world city has gained a world mayor".

The former Labour deputy minister for social affairs is the Netherlands' first mayor with Moroccan roots. The inauguration has attracted a great deal of international media attention, with journalists from countries ranging from Morocco and Turkey to France and Germany in Rotterdam for the ceremony.

Mr Aboutaleb does not face an easy task in his new position. Integration and crime are major political issues in Rotterdam. At the same time, practical matters like infrastructure and the finances of Rotterdam's port will also demand the mayor's attention.

"Obama of Rotterdam"
Mr Aboutaleb's appointment has met with mixed reactions. He has been heralded as the "Barack Obama of Rotterdam".

Anne Frank House reports: Islamophobia is on the rise in The Netherlands

The Anne Frank House and the Leiden University have conducted an interesting study on the recent developments of racism and extremism in The Netherlands and the report on their findings is out today.

Along with Islamophobia, extreme right-wing activism and Geert Wilders' Party of Freedom are also topping the list on their findings as the primary factors in the growing trend of hate-driven social change in The Netherlands.

The report goes into lengthy detail listing all possible aspects which may be contributing to the sudden changes towards extremism, but it does not discuss Islamophobia as a separate issue as it does in the case of right-wing extremism and Geert Wilders.  Instead, the report strongly hints Islamophobia when it goes into detail citing both, the law and several examples of Geert Wilders political statements regarding Islam and Muslims, in order to prove that what he's doing is in fact against the law and purely intended to incite hatred, racism and discrimination towards Muslims with his hate-filled political agenda.  However Geert Wilders cannot be charged with any crime he commits in the regard as long as he keeps making these hate-filled statement within the confines of parliament.  As a parliamentarian he is granted immunity when it comes to freedom of speech in parliament, which basically means he can say whatever he wants even if it's racist or incites to hatred.  As long as he doesn't do it in public, he is OK.

 

According to this report Geert Wilders and his Party of Freedom do not fit the profile of the typical right-wing xenophobic nationalists like Vlaams Belang (formerly known as Vlaams Blok) for instance, because he is not anti-Semitic.   In fact he's against all non-native Europeans, except Jews and he goes out of his way to make it known to the public.

Eighth monitor racism & extremism - the official Anne Frank House website

The problem of 'Islamophobia' in the Netherlands has grown considerably in the past year, not only in terms of negative public opinion towards Muslims but also in terms of the increased violence directed at this community and the growing tendency to turn a blind eye to crimes of expression aimed at them.

This is one of the most salient findings in the Racism & Extremism Monitor, a work published today that is part of the running scholarly study being carried out by Leiden University and the Anne Frank House.

Will you shop till you drop at the new Heineken store?

You should see the pictures, the design is amazing!

I just can't decide whether it looks more like a museum or a hospital.

Heineken The City / Tjep | Arch Daily

What do you do when Heineken asks you to design their first shop? Do you place furniture and displays into a given space? At Tjep, they thought it would be rather more appropriate to pour furniture into the six monumental buildings located in the heart of Amsterdam, as if we were filling a cold fresh glass of X-tra cold Heineken.

Why no Dutch Obama?

Radio Netherlands says not just yet, but the potential is definitely there.

The person with the most potential to be "da man" is currently Moroccan-born Ahmed Aboutaleb.

Mr. Aboutaleb was recently voted Mayor of Rotterdam by Rotterdam's City Council, making him the first ever Mayor in the Netherlands who is not a Dutch native.

Why no Dutch Obama? - Radio Netherlands Worldwide

The United States has a black president, but the Netherlands has never had a black prime minister. And plenty of other countries have had women heads of government - so why not the Netherlands?

The explanation is simple, says Radio Netherlands Worldwide's political editor Hans Andringa. It's simply a matter of time. "New Dutch" people have only been in the Netherlands for a matter of decades, and they have been active in politics for an even shorter time.

"Before you get to the top in a political party, so you're as widely recognised and acknowledged as you need to be to become a party leader, it takes a long time."

It has taken years for the number of MPs with ethnic minority backgrounds to build up to the present level, yet the figure is still no higher than eight percent of the total.

Tensions
There are even fewer people from ethnic minorities in leading political positions. One exception is the Moroccan-born Achmed Aboutaleb. Currently the deputy social affairs minister, he has just been appointed mayor of Rotterdam. This has a particular resonance, because in recent years the city has been associated with tensions between white Dutch people and ethnic minorities, and was the home ground of the murdered rightwing populist politician Pim Fortuyn. Political commentators have pointed out that if Rotterdam had an elected mayor, it seems unlikely that Mr Aboutaleb would have made it to the post.

AD.nl - Binnenland - Heftig onthaal voor Aboutaleb

Other interesting news on Radio Netherlands:

The untold story of the 1950s Berber uprising in northern Morocco.....

Search for my father - Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Fifty years ago, the people of Morocco's Rif mountains rebelled against the central government. The uprising was brutally put down by the Moroccan army and many of the Rif mountains' native Berbers left for Europe. The world's media didn't pay much attention to the 1958 rebellion, but it left its mark on many people's lives, including that of Mohamed Amezian, son of the rebel leader.

Obama City.....

Obama City, Japan - Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Barack Obama's victory is also being greeted with enthusiasm in Japan - especially in the city of Obama. The residents of the city, which is in the south near Kyoto, support the Democratic candidate mainly because of the shared name, but they have political reasons too.

Afterthought....

Last Sunday I got a phone call from my nephew Chakib who lives in Amsterdam along with the rest of my family.  He told me to hold on a minute because he had a surprise for me. 

So I waited for a few seconds and oh what great surprise!

My childhood best friend Saida, whom I hadn't seen or talked to for close to two decades, got on the phone and....

Hiiiiiiii Nashia!!!!!!

Saida?  OMG I can't believe it!

Saida and I share so many memories, getting in trouble together and having such a great time growing up together. Eventually we went our seperate ways when we were about 19 years old and only seeing each other in passing occasionally.

Imagine my surprise when the first thing she said to me was:

Hey, Ahmed Aboutaleb is now Mayor of Rotterdam hahaaa!

I said: Yes, I read about that in the news.  Isn't it awesome?

She said: Remember when you had a fight with him?

Hmm me a fight with Aboutaleb?  What are you talking about?

Saida: Hahaa well, maybe not a fight, more like an argument.

I said: I used to run into him here and there, we knew some of the same people and I do remember having a few exchanges with him, but an argument? 

If I did, I don't remember.

Saida goes: Well, maybe not an argument, but more like a discussion about politics and I remember clearly when you said you thought he was an arrogant prick and very stubborn...hahaaaa!

Oh WOW really?  I swear I don't remember that, but let me tell you something.  I've been following his political career in the news for many years now and I'm so proud of him for all that he has accomplished in such a short period of time, despite all the apposition he had to face not just in Dutch society but within the Moroccan community as well. 

Saida then quickly changed the subject.

QUICC! DiVa

Move over Tata.....

Dutch car manufacturer DuraCar introduces its first electric car made out of recyclable plastic.

Paris Preview: Duracar Quicc DiVa to officially launch - AutoblogGreen

World Première
It is a world-first for a Dutch automobile manufacturer to have a world première at the historic Paris fair. DuraCar introduces itself and its first type of the QUICC!, the QUICC! DiVa, at stand 426 in hall 3.

100 % Electric and Plastic
DuraCar launches a unique car on the market: the QUICC! DiVa. The QUICC! DiVa is not only fully battery electrically powered, body and chassis of the car are entirely made of plastic. The QUICC! DiVa is green, economical and its compact design was developed for urban traffic purposes. In 2009 the car will be launched on the market.

Moroccan diplomats withdrawn from Netherlands in spy case

nrc.nl - International - Sacked Moroccan police officer leads to diplomatic row

Morocco has withdrawn two diplomats from the Netherlands after complaints from Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen about "detrimental practices" by the Moroccan authorities two months ago.

The alleged offences are related to the case of a police officer in Rotterdam who was sacked this summer on suspicion of spying for the Moroccan secret service. The man was officially fired for "a severe breach of duty". While it has not yet been decided whether to prosecute the man, the case has caused a political stir in the Netherlands.

Previous post: Moroccan Spy?

Moroccan Spy?

A Moroccan-Dutch police sergeant in Rotterdam was fired on grounds of "serious neglegence of duty" after the Dutch national security service determined that he may have been spying for the Moroccan secret service. 

The Rotterdam police department decided not to seek formal prosecution to charge the ex-cop with espionage due to insufficient evidence.

Sounds weird doesn't it?

AD.nl - Rotterdam - Politieagent spion Marokko

Update 9/17

Dutch newspapers are now making a big deal out of the fact that this so-called Moroccan spy is now employed at the Rotterdam airport, not only raising the already existing level of paranoia towards Moroccans living in the Netherlands, but also as if to imply that allowing the ex-cop in question to work at the airport is like an open invitation for terrorist activity.  The media still refers to the ex-cop as a Moroccan spy, while the authorities clearly indicate that there was insufficient evidence to support that claim.

So what gives?

I would love to hear the ex-cop's own side of the story.

AD.nl - Rotterdam Stad - Marokkaanse spion werkt op vliegveld

Jordanian Arrest Warrant Against Geert Wilders

I guess this could be a sign that your daily dose of garden/hell variety fatwas may be going out of style soon, it's dubious international arrest warrants that are hot and trendy these days and Mr Wilders doesn't like it one bit of course.......and frankly, neither do I. 

Internatinal arrest warrant?

pfffff give me a break!

This is utter BS!

Latest News - Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Dutch MP expects Jordanian arrest warrant

Published: Friday 20 June 2008 09:12 UTC
Last updated: Friday 20 June 2008 09:12 UTC

Dutch MP Geert Wilders says Jordan will soon issue an international warrant for his arrest in connection with his anti-Islam film, Fitna. The leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) says the move will mean he could be extradited to Jordan if he travels abroad. He says Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has been informed of the risk and is taking it extremely seriously.

A group calling itself The Messenger of Allah Unites Us has brought a case in Jordan against Mr Wilders. The group is accusing him of racism and incitement to hatred of Islam and Muslims, and the charge has been ruled actionable by a court in the Jordanian capital Amman. The MP expects the court to go on to issue a summons and an arrest warrant.

Muslims who live by the strict rule of "sharia" will never get along with other nations (especially those nations where "freedom of speech" trumps all), not necessarily because they don't want to get along, but because the nature of sharia does not allow it.  Muslims who fail to grasp the concept of "freedom of speech"and its importance to the human spirit, could (for instance) never understand what it means to be free and practice their faith freely, purely for the love of God and not out of fear of what might happen to them in the hereafter.

AHA back in the headlines again

This time, Ms Ali wrote a children's book about a friendship between a Moroccan boy and a Jewish girl.  I can only guess where she wants to go with that one.

Islam critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes children's book - Radio Netherlands Worldwide - English

Jews drink blood and Muslims steal anything they can lay their hands on. In her children's' book Adan and Eve, which was published today, controversial former Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali pulls no punches when it comes to listing prejudices. The story is about the impossible friendship between a Muslim boy and a Jewish girl.

But that's not all....Ms AHA is still trying to get somebody to pick up the tab for her safety expenses.

She is now attempting to launch a legal probe through the Dutch court system, to prove that the Dutch government promised to pay for her personal safety in Holland as well as abroad. 

AD.nl - Binnenland - Hirsi Ali wil beveiliging afdwingen

DEN HAAG - Ayaan Hirsi Ali wil via de rechter afdwingen dat Nederland de kosten van haar beveiliging in zowel binnen- als buitenland betaalt.

Dutch Teacher Finds Christmas Card Written by Anne Frank

From YnetNews

A Dutch school director preparing an exhibition on Anne Frank found a Christmas postcard signed by the Jewish teenage diarist, the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam said Wednesday.

Maatje Mostard, of the museum, said the card was sent in 1937 and addressed to Samme Ledermann, one of Frank's best friends. It was postmarked from Aachen, a town just across the Dutch border in Germany.

The postcard, with a picture on the front of a Christmas-decorated bell in the foreground and a snow-covered field behind it, was signed 'Anne Frank' with no other handwritten message. Mostard said it was the second such card the museum had seen. "We know it's an original," she said.

The teacher, Paul van den Heuvel, found the Christmas greeting in a box of cards in the antique store owned by his father in the town of Naarden, 15 kilometers east of Amsterdam. Van den Heuvel was gathering material on Anne Frank for his school to mark Liberation Day, the May 5 anniversary of the end of German occupation, when he came across the card.

The museum was informed of the find Tuesday by a journalist. "I don't know what he will do with it. We hope we can get it for our collection," Mostard said.

The museum, which encompasses the small Amsterdam apartment where the Frank family hid from the Nazis for 25 months, has the largest collection of documents and papers on Anne Frank, whose diary is the most widely read book relating to the Holocaust.

Anne, her parents and sister and four other Jews hiding in the apartment were arrested in August 1944 and deported to Auschwitz. The sisters were later sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where Anne died of typhus in March 1945, two weeks before the camp was liberated. She was 15.