A panel discussion titled “How Deep-Rooted Is Islamophobia in the Netherlands?” was held in the Netherlands, where speakers discussed the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country, its impact on society, and possible solutions.
The event was organized in Amsterdam by the International Union of Democrats (UID) Netherlands. Among those attending were Türkiye’s Consul General in Amsterdam, Mahmut Burak Ersoy; DENK Party Member of Parliament Stephan van Baarle; UID President Kenan Aslan; UID Netherlands President Ertuğrul Kurt; anthropologist Prof. Dr. Thijl Sunier; lawyer Florian Drenth; and human rights lawyer Els van de Loo.
Speakers at the panel said Muslims in the Netherlands have faced systemic discrimination for years and argued that the government has failed to take sufficient action to address the issue.
Several proposed government policies and laws were also criticized during the discussion, with speakers claiming they disproportionately target Muslims. In particular, measures involving oversight of Quran classes and restrictions affecting Islamic religious practices were described as violations of Muslims’ fundamental rights.
Türkiye’s Consul General Mahmut Burak Ersoy warned that growing anti-Muslim hatred and hostility toward immigrants pose a serious threat to social cohesion and global peace. He said the issue has moved beyond intolerance and now represents a direct threat to human dignity, security, and international stability.
Ersoy also expressed concern over the role of social media, describing it as an increasingly unchecked space for spreading anti-Muslim hate. He stressed that Türkiye strongly condemns hatred against all religions, including both Islamophobia and antisemitism.
He further criticized ongoing provocative acts such as Quran desecrations and said Muslim women and young people continue to experience discrimination in their daily lives.
DENK Party lawmaker Stephan van Baarle said discrimination against Muslims in the Netherlands has existed since the 1970s, but political leaders have repeatedly failed to respond effectively.
He noted that earlier generations of Muslim immigrants helped build the Netherlands through their hard work and contributions, and said today’s Muslim communities continue to play an important role in improving Dutch society.
UID Netherlands President Ertuğrul Kurt said Islamophobia is not just a term used in reports, but a lived reality affecting Muslims every day, especially Muslim women and young people.
Concluding his remarks, Kurt said: “Real change does not start tomorrow. Real change starts right here and right now.”
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