Future of Dutch Muslims Uncertain as Far-Right Firebrand Geert Wilders Makes Historic Gains in Dutch Election

The controversial far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders has achieved a historic victory as his Freedom Party (PVV) won the most parliamentary seats in The Netherlands’ general elections held on November 23rd, 2023.1. This dramatic result demonstrates rising anti-immigration and Eurosceptic populism that could install Wilders as the nation’s first far-right Prime Minister Wilders Party for…

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The Dutch right wing’s use of social media to spread anti-Islam rhetoric

Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom in the Netherlands (Partij voor de Vrijheid in Dutch, or PVV), shared a video clip on Twitter earlier this month attacking Islam and its traditions. In the video, released on 12 April – coinciding with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – the…

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Dutch parliament votes in favour of ‘burqa ban’

After more than a decade of pushing for a ban on face-covering clothing, far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders has finally succeeded in making this ban reality. Officially, the ban is directed at more general forms of face-covering clothing such as balaclavas and full face helmets, but popularly the ban is understood as a ban on…

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Ahmed Aboutaleb Pleads for “Patience” in Debate About Role of Islam in Dutch Society

The Dutch-Moroccan Aboutaleb, who has been mayor of Rotterdam since 2009, has pleaded for “patience” and ‘calmness’ in the debate about the role of Islam in society. He has been recently interviewed by Dutch newspaper Trouw, in which he discussed his views on the ways Islam has been debated in the Netherlands for the last…

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