Press Release
The Growing Phenomenon of Islamophobia and Hatred of Muslims in the Netherlands Are the Result of the Anti-Islam Policy
(Translated)

Yesterday de VolksKrant Newspaper published an article confirming that many Muslims in the Netherlands may have been exposed to numerous harassments and attacks due to the phenomenon of Islamophobia, and that the numbers of incidents associated with the Islamophobic; and hostile discourse to Islam and Muslims have increased significantly in recent times. The figures indicate that in 2013 at least 150 reports and complaints were submitted from Muslims who were targeted by the Dutch. This means that the authorities were receiving nearly three formal complaints a week; these reports ranging from physical abuse, threats, insults, and racists words because of the Khimar and Hijab, not to mention the repeated attacks on mosques. It is important to point out that these official reports do not give an accurate description of what is really taking place, especially since many incidents occur but the Muslim victims do not report them to the police. These developments undoubtedly are disturbing, but the question that must be answered is: Why is the fear and hatred of the Dutch from Islam and Muslims growing?

Each one of us can understand that the government and politicians deliberately created problems with the Muslims when they worked to prevent the Islamic symbols in order to hasten the integration of Muslims in society. This policy has led to a gap between Muslims and non-Muslims in the Netherlands, in addition to the participation of the Dutch government in fighting and sending soldiers to more than one Muslims countries to fight the so-called terrorism, all of these factors have contributed to the strengthening of concerns the Dutch have about Muslims, prompting the non-Muslims to stand against Muslims.

This is one of the reasons that prompted us to launch an awareness campaign to educate Muslims and non-Muslims in the Netherlands under the title: "Together Against Anti-Islam Policy" several months ago, where we have carried out many activities, such as leaflet distribution across the country, and the organization of meetings and dialogues, and we held a conference, and participated in more than one media program, in a move from us to draw the attention of people, especially Muslims to the measures that the Dutch government intends to enact to fight the so-called Jihadism, with these measures the government have strengthened this new policy which is hostile to Islam and Muslims and made matters more difficult for them.

We have sent a clear call to everyone in this country, especially the rational, and asked them to take a position on these measures, and not to remain silent observers of what is happening to the Muslim community of injustice without intervening, and to stand against the so-called policy against "radicalism", that views the Muslim community as the source for extremism, which in practical terms it means spying on the Muslim community to prevent extremism. This policy allows the authority to stop any Muslim for any reason and interrogate him, and allows the confiscation of Muslims' passports without the intervention of the judiciary or the existence of prior judicial ruling, and prevents Muslims from traveling for the mere presence of suspicion around him. This policy gives the right for the state to take Muslim children from their homes and separate between them and their parents for mere suspicion by the authorities, and without the presence of any evidence or court order, as happened in more than one incident.

In a new incident in which the racist state policy against Muslims is apparent; the incident of our Sister Umm Osama, who was suspected of recruiting women for jihad. She was arrested, then released for lack of evidence, but her son, whose age did not exceed five months, was taken from her because some people suspected her and thought that she intends to travel to Turkey, according to the official spokeswoman of the Council of Child Protection, the court decided to provide temporary care for the child outside his home, even before the Child Protection Council, carries out an investigation into the incident, to see if the situation calls for a separation between the child and his mother.

The anti-Islam policy that sees that there is no place for Islamic identity and Islamic practices in the Netherlands cannot be separated from the Western secular thought. There are many studies and initiatives prepared by policy makers to suppress Muslims and pressurize them to accept the secularization of Islam. By this, their basis would be from  secularism that views that everyone must believe in the basic idea that society is built on, so the Muslims who hold on to Islamic ideas and want to live by it are branded as trouble makers are classified with no intention to integrate. All of this in order to create public opinion against Islam and Muslims; but these policies show at the same time the failure of secular thought in dealing and accepting of those who hold thoughts contrary to Western thought, instead of accepting and respecting their intellectual privacy, they are excluded and are seen as outcasts.

As for Islam it is completely opposite to this, to begin with, it does not force anyone to embrace it, and leaves others the option of following the teachings of their religion. Not only this, but Islam ensures the safety and rights of everyone living in the Islamic society, regardless of its origin and belief, and welcomes all who want to live under its laws and  authority. Shariah laws reflect the Islamic policy with non-Muslims, which were applied by the Khilafah "Caliphate" State throughout the centuries, in addition to the historical evidences which are the best witness of how Muslims treated non-Muslims.

Finally, the security and the future of Muslims in the Netherlands is bleak, for Muslims to live in this country in security and safety, first it is required that they are recognised and that their belief is respected. Hizb ut Tahrir outlined the importance of the interaction between Muslims and non-Muslims to live together. Hizb ut Tahrir called and still calls for a rational and honest debate about Islam, to remove what has settled in the minds of erroneous ideas and misconceptions about Islam, and to reduce the fear of Islam. Consequently, the party also calls for a debate on secular thought and it being the real reason behind the policies and unjust measures against Muslims.

Okay Pala
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir
in The Netherlands