Why some Dutch Muslims back Geert Wilders even as he compares the Koran to Hitler’s Mein Kampf: ‘I’ll give him a chance’
- Far-right politician Geert Wilders has called Moroccans ‘scum’, and threatened to organise a competition to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed
- But some Dutch Muslims have placed more importance to Wilder’s economic issues than to his past comments about Islam
Dutch Muslim community leaders voiced anger, fear, and defiance after the election victory of anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders, but on the ground the picture seemed more nuanced, with many even expressing support because of his economic policies.
Wilders has called Moroccans “scum”, compared the Koran to Hitler’s “Mein Kampf”, and received death threats after threatening to organise a competition to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
He toned down his anti-Islam rhetoric during the campaign, focusing more on issues such as the rising cost of living. But community leader Muhsin Koktas of the CMO muslim association said: “I don’t know if Muslims are still safe in the Netherlands. I am worried about this country.”
Habib el Kaddouri from the SMN association of Moroccan Dutch said that “some people are scared, others uncertain about their future, about what the result means for their citizenship or place in Dutch society.”
“At the same time, I have noticed that people are also combative. ‘We won’t be driven away by Mr Wilders’ or a right-wing cabinet,” he said.
