28 February 2012 Dutch MP Barry Madlener stressed the necessary exclusion of Turkey from the European Union in an interview with the Huriyet daily. He noted that the presence of Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands cause ethnic Dutch to feel ‘unsafe’ and stated that “We must be crazy to want for Turkey to enter the…
While Islam has been firmly placed on the global agenda since 9/11, and continues to occupy a prominent place in media discourse, attention has recently begun to shift towards European Muslims, or “as some would prefer to say” Muslims in Europe. Apart from the usual concerns, mostly articulated in the media, on the radicalization of…
11 October 2011 Following a ruling that the compulsory attendance of integration classes for Turkish immigrants is illegal, thousands of Turkish nationals in the Netherlands may now seek compensation for the cost of the course. The government established the rules for compulsory integration course in 2006, which have now been deemed illegal under treaties between…
16 August 2011 The Utrecht Court of Appeals has determined that the Netherlands cannot require Turkish immigrants to undergo integration courses. The appeal follows a 2007 ruling that all immigrants must successfully complete integration courses, a decision which has been decided conflicts with an EU treaty which includes a statement disallowing discrimination between Turks…
July 21, 2011 The European Union’s human rights watchdog has criticized laws banning the wearing of Muslim veil, warning that the legislation fuels anti-Muslim sentiments across the continent. “[These laws] would further stigmatize these women and lead to their alienation from the majority society,” Thomas Hammarberg, Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe,…
