Why a Former Islamophobic Politician––Arnoud van Doorn––Accepted Islam

Joram van Klaveren: Why I Left the Far-Right

From extreme nationalism and far-right politics to compassion and empathy, watch the incredible transformation story of Joram van Klaveren, a former Dutch parliamentarian.

Joram van Klaveren is now the president of the Anthony Janszoon Association. The English translation of his book, Apostate, will be published towards the end of the year by 't Kennishuys.

From Critic to Convert | The Joram van Klaveren Story: From Islamophobe to Believer

Sidi Joram van Klaveren shares his remarkable personal journey as a former far-right Dutch lawmaker who had been fiercely critical of Islam and why he chose to became a Muslim in 2019 while he had been penning a book meant to be anti-Islam.

Joram van Klaveren was a lawmaker in the Party of Freedom, led by Dutch anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders, from 2010 to 2014. During that time, he advocated a burqa ban, a ban on masjid minarets and a ‘de-Islamization‘ of the Netherlands.

In February 2019, he announced his religious conversion to Islam. The Islamophobic polemic he had been penning morphed into a rousing defense the the faith.

Dutch 'Burqa Ban' Rendered Largely Unworkable on First Day

THE GUARDIAN: Police and transport companies have signalled unwillingness to enforce face covering ban

The Netherlands’ “burqa ban” has been rendered largely unworkable on its first day in law after both the police and Dutch transport companies signalled an unwillingness to enforce it.

Under the terms of the Partial Ban on Face-Covering Clothing Act the wearing of ski masks, full-face helmets, balaclavas, niqabs and burqas is prohibited in public buildings, including schools and hospitals, and on public transport.

Wearers of the banned clothing are to be given the option to remove the offending item or face a police fine of between €150 and €415. There is no prohibition on wearing such garments in the street.

But the law appears to have been fatally undermined after police said its enforcement was not a priority and signalled their discomfort with the idea that veiled women could be put off from entering a police station to make unrelated complaints. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Thursday, August 1, 2019

Three Dead in Shooting in Dutch City of Utrecht: Mayor | Al Jazeera English

Three people are dead and nine wounded after a gunman opened fire in a tram in the central Dutch city of Utrecht says the city's mayor Jan von Zanen.

Dutch authorities have raised the threat level to its highest, and Prime Minister Mark Rutte said all efforts were focusing on the "suspect or suspects" responsible.

Al Jazeera's Fleur Launspach reports from Utrecht.

Utrecht Shooting: A Gunman Opened Fire at Several Locations - BBC News

A gunman has opened fire inside a tram and at several other locations in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities say.

Dutch anti-terrorism co-ordinator Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg said all efforts were now focused on catching the gunman. He also said there could be more than one perpetrator.

The threat level has been temporarily raised to its highest point in the province of Utrecht.

Heavily armed police are reportedly gathered outside a house on a street near the 24 Oktoberplein junction, where the tram attack took place, with reports they are preparing to launch a raid.

Netherlands Cuts Muslim Man's Benefits for Refusing to Shave Beard

THE GUARDIAN: Dutch court backs suspension after man told he had to be clean shaven to train as asbestos removal officer

A Dutch court has backed the suspension of a Muslim man’s benefits over his refusal on religious grounds to shave his beard while on training for a job.

The unnamed man had been offered a job as an asbestos removal officer but was subsequently told he would need to be clean shaven in order to undergo the training course.

When he refused on the basis of his religious convictions, Amersfoort city council suspended payments to both him and his wife for a month under the Participatiewet, which provides a minimum income for every legal resident in the Netherlands. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Wednesday, February 27, 2019

"Harry's Story" - Memories of Hiding Jews and Nazi Brutality during WWII

Harry Andringa was only 9 years old and living in Holland when Adolf Hitler's Nazis invaded the Netherlands. Harry's family endured the horrors and atrocities of the Nazi regime for 5 years until Holland was liberated by the Allies.

Many families including Harry's hid Jewish children to prevent them from being sent to concentration camps. This documentary includes a interview with Harry and supported by vintage war footage from the Canadian Army Newsreels - courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada.

Harry used to visit local schools during Remembrance Day services and other times when he was invited to talk to students about WWII. His story is preserved in this documentary so it will not be forgotten.

Turkey Referendum Dispute: Interview with Arnoud Van Doorn on Turkey-Netherlands Row

Arnoud Van Doorn, a Hague City Council Member and the leader of PVDE party, also known as the Unity Party, talks to TRT World about political dispute between two countries. He was a member of Wilders’ right-wing Freedom Party until the end of 2011 and personal friend of Wilders. But then he declared his conversion to Islam.

Turkey's Nazi Remarks 'Unacceptable', Say Hollande and Merkel

THE GUARDIAN: French and German leaders condemn Turkish politicians’ behaviour since ban on rallies in support of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

François Hollande and Angela Merkel have condemned the behaviour of Turkish politicians ahead of the country’s upcoming constitutional referendum, saying it was “unacceptable” for Turkey to accuse Germany and other countries of “Nazi practices” for banning rallies in support of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. » | Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Thursday, March 16, 2017

After the Dutch Vote: Prime Minister Hails Win Over "Wrong Kind of Populism"; Traditional Parties Suffer in General Elections (Parts 1 & 2)

Dutch General Election: German Chancellor Angela Merkel "Very Happy" Over Results

Mark Rutte Says Dutch People Have Rejected 'Wrong Sort of Populism'

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte says the election result, in which his VVD party comfortably beat the anti-Islam Freedom party of Geert Wilders, shows the people have said no to ‘the wrong side of populism’. As party supporters celebrate the victory around him, Rutte says the vote was also a vote for economic stability, ‘that we should not experiment, that we should continue the policies of recovery.’

Wilders: I’m No Trump But Media Equally Tough On Me

The Dutch are voting in a general election today. It's a tight race between the anti-establishment Party for Freedom, and premier Mark Rutte's ruling party.

What Will the Dutch Decide? (Parts 1 & 2)

‪Erdoğan Calls Merkel a ‘Terrorist Supporter,’ Says Turkey Will Go to ECHR over Netherlands Rally Row‬

Turkey will challenge the Netherlands in the European Court of Human Rights over its refusal to allow Turkish officials to enter the country and deliver campaign speeches, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned.

Dutch Election: Will Populism Win or Lose in the Netherlands? - BBC Newsnight

Will the Dutch general election be the latest uprising led by the forces of populism, or the first recent sign of resistance to them? Newsnight’s Gabriel Gatehouse reports from The Hague.

Netherlands General Election: Dutch Go to Polls in Test of Far-right Strength

War of Words between the Netherlands and Turkey

‘They Should Make Excuses’: Rift between Turkey & Netherlands Deepens

A row has exploded between Turkey and The Netherlands - after the EU country banned rallies in support of the Turkish president, who's drumming up support ahead of a constitutional referendum. In response, Ankara compared Amsterdam's actions to those of the Nazis. Two Turkish ministers were also effectively barred from entering The Netherlands. In his latest speech, the Turkish president called the EU state ‘a banana republic.’