By political editor John Tyler
29-10-2008
If you had been watching the TV news in the Netherlands the past few months, you would have concluded that the country is facing a major social problem: groups of boys and young men of Moroccan background harassing people and causing trouble in the major cities and many large towns.
In the most recent case, in a neighbourhood of Gouda, a young Moroccan allegedly threatened a bus driver with a knife. When the public buses subsequently wouldn't go through the neighbourhood, that proved one step too far for some politicians. Hero Brinkman, of the far-right Freedom Party, called for the Dutch army to be deployed in neighbourhoods to keep the peace.
Tough measures called for
Brinkman was alone in wanting to call in the army, but politicians across the political spectrum now advocate tough measures. And everyone from left to right agrees that public disturbances are more often caused by kids of Moroccan background than by other groups.
Hero Brinkman says the problems are caused by a culture clash.
"I think that we are a Dutch community with a Christian, Jewish and humanistic background, and not with an Islamic background. And [it's] not at all [like the culture] from the little bit retarded North African background of the Moroccan people."
Mr Brinkman is clearly not a cultural relativist. Are Dutch neighbourhoods being overrun by Moroccan toughs? Is the problem really so bad?
Trouble in Amsterdam
Ahmed Marcoush is chairman of the council of Slotervaart, a borough of Amsterdam known for its large Moroccan population. Last year, a young Moroccan was killed in Slotervaart after he threatened some police officers. For two nights, cars were set on fire and bricks were thrown at the police station. Some said they thought Moroccan young people were on the verge of large-scale riots similar to those in France.
Marcoush disagreed and - more than a year later - says things are going well.
"Crime has decreased dramatically, in some cases by 50 percent. Those are spectacular developments. We're not there yet, but I hope we can keep it up."
Marcoush advocates dealing with troublesome kids by combining tough law enforcement with getting parents involved. He says the kids who get into trouble spend lots of time out of the house, like they would if they were in Morocco. And he should know. He himself came here from Morocco at the age of ten, and credits his success to having a father who did keep track of him when he was young.
Involving the families
Mourad Taimounti is also a Dutchman of Moroccan background. He's helping to implement the new family-oriented approach to dealing with street kids. He says its working well, as in the case of a 17-year-old who was getting into trouble.
"We called the school and they told us they didn't even know his name, because he hadn't been even one day to school. So we confronted the father with that situation, and at that time the father got really furious, because he was ashamed for that situation. He had the feeling he had been fooled for a long time by his own son, a son he trusted."
Marcoush and Taimounti say they are implementing a form of social control. Surpisingly, they even start to sound a bit like the Freedom Party's Hero Brinkman, when they talk about the role Moroccan culture plays.
Social control
Taimounti says it's important to bring back social control, because the parents are used to that back in Morocco.
"They're used to being confronted with the behaviour of their children, they're used to their children being raised in the streets, by the neighbours. But that's a different situation in the Netherlands."
The analysis of those working closely with the Moroccan community may be similar to that of some politicians. But Marcoush and Taimounti, and many others working closely with the community, say the problem of Moroccan street kids is going in the right direction.
But with every new incident where a kid of Moroccan background disturbs the public order, people like Marcoush and Taimounti worry that politicians in the Hague will overreact and make the problems worse.
Tags:
Amsterdam,
army,
boys,
buses,
fire,
Gouda,
Morocco,
Netherlands,
racism,
riots,
street crime,
threats,
youths
Stephan,
27-11-2008
-
In Germany we have many problems with Türkish and Arabian gangs. They rape and kill each day people in Germany.
Is a horror for us.
Christina ,
30-10-2008
- Canada
It is very sad to see that my country is being taken for a ride. In the name of tolerance, and generosity what is it that we are accepting here ? In the spirit of non-generalization are we now avoiding 'telling it like it is'? When RNW reports does it have to tip toe around the facts - to spare being called neo-Nazi's? The fact is that this is a social crisis and it needs to be resolved with education and enlightenment on the parents behalfs at the time of immigration. The key is to educate these youths to assimilate as best as possible and to feel as though they are a part of the community from the very first moment, segregation feeds into these issues more than anything. And how are you to do that when the parents are totally unaware? Should the parents not be told at the time of immigration that they will be held responsible and accountable for their childrens' actions until the age of adulthood? If you have immigrated to Holland or any European or North American country let's say for arguments sake you are trying to improve the quality of life for you or your family, why then would you bite the hand that feeds you ? If I committed a crime in a country that was not my homeland I would expect to be sent home. In conclusion I have a question for the commentator named: Marokaans - if you write you're in Helland - instead of Holland and it seems you find it impossibly Hellish why do you still live there ?
jason,
29-10-2008
-
And another thing; they aren't segregated, they self-segregate. They consider non-muslims inferior, and want nothing to do with them AND NEVER WILL. Wake up people
Hiram,
29-10-2008
- USA
"...you would have concluded that the country is facing a major social problem." If one observes a specific group of people, such as Moroccan youths and Moroccan young men committing numerous crimes against the public and then thinks nothing is serious wrong, then one needs to get counselling as quick as possible. Failure to act and protect the public at large by the government is the main cause and effect in the Moroccan youths crimminal activities continue. Stop being so liberal for the criminals and start protecting the public. The Dutch call it tolerance, but another name for tolerance is anarchy (a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority.)
Willem,
29-10-2008
- Canada
'I think that we are a Dutch community with a Christian, Jewish and humanistic background, and not with an Islamic background. And [it's] not at all [like the culture] from the little bit retarded North African background of the Moroccan people.' Finally, someone to tell it like it is. Very good.
Sandra,
29-10-2008
- Nederlands
I can understand why some would turn to crime when all they hear about in the media and by society is the fact that they are not wanted, or will never be accepted as an equal in this country. All you ever hear in the media is Moroccan youths this and that, which is funny. They seem to be the best behaved kids in my neighborhood and city, though they are often targeted with racial slurs in the open as if it is an everyday thing to say. The sad thing is: these youths just take it out of fear of this very thing, to be accused of all wrongs in this society.
marokaans,
29-10-2008
- hell-land
Moroccan this Moroccans that,the neo-nazi clan took over this radio?
jason,
28-10-2008
-
The problem is obviously Islam and its contradiction to Dutch Law, Western Law, and basic human rights and freedoms. Muslims will never integrate. Netherlands already has a Muslim political party, U.K. is running a parrallel Sharia system, Denmark just got a new Muslim political party. Why do people think they will integrate. Where do they get this from. They will keep coming and coming unitl Sharia is forced upon Europe by force or voted in by a majority. Then you'll find Dutch girls wearing veils and chained to the kitchen sink. I love The Netherlands. Islam is cruel and dark and has no place in any free society.
Moderator's response:
Dear Jason, thank you for your reaction. Are you sure you're not confusing islam and sharia? The one is a religion, the other a set of rules. In countries with freedom of religion and freedom of association, like the Netherlands, there is no legal reason for a ban on a Muslim party. Islam is not, as you say, in contradiction to Dutch law. People who act in contravention to the law, however, such as being over-strict in the application of certain sharia rules, can be prosecuted.
