Her Royal Whyness

Got several emails from HRW with short but good items on Wilders impact on Muslims.

NISNEWS
One in Five Muslims Supports Wilders

THE HAGUE, 30/06/09 - Most Muslims in the Netherlands see Geert Wilders as a threat, but nearly one in five share his criticisms of Islam partly or in full, according to a survey by TV programme Netwerk.

Three-quarters of the Muslims consider it a threat if Wilders were to enter government. Nonetheless, one-third of them find it logical for a portion of the Dutch to vote for him. Eighteen percent of the Muslims agree with the Party for Freedom (PVV) leader on a number of points. On the other hand, 22 percent feel hatred towards Wilders.

On the question of how the Muslim community should deal with Wilders' rising popularity, there are divergent thoughts. Most support is for ignoring him (40 percent), closely followed by 'enter into the discussion' (35 percent). Next come 'let a tough counter-voice be heard' (25 percent) and 'tackle problems within the Muslim community' (23 percent).

Nearly three-quarters of the Muslims have the feeling that the 'ordinary' Dutch have judged them more negatively in recent years than in the past. Additionally, 4 out of 10 Muslims say they are discriminated against more often nowadays.

Two-thirds of the respondents see 'a future for themselves' in the Netherlands. It is noteworthy here that young Muslims in particular see it this way (73 percent). Muslims aged over 35 have less confidence: 43 percent see no future here for themselves any more.

Dutch News:

Many Muslims want to leave due to Wilders
Monday 29 June 2009

The rise in support for anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders means many Dutch Muslims are considering emigrating, according to a poll for NCRV tv.

While 75% of Dutch Muslims said they still feel at home in the Netherlands, 57% say they feel less welcome, the poll shows, according to the Telegraaf. And 51% are thinking more often about leaving.

In addition, 75% feel they are judged more negatively since the rise of Wilders and four out of 10 say they are more often discriminated against.

Nevertheless, 18% say Wilders does make some good points, the Telegraaf says.
Rotterdam

The Volkskrant carries an interview with Rotterdam city council executive Hamit Karakus who warns that well-educated young Muslims are increasingly asking themselves if they have a future in Holland.

'My children don't understand it,' he told the paper. 'You cannot say they do not speak Dutch, do not understand the habits and culture, and that they are not well-educated. But they still have the feeling that they are not accepted,' he said.

The rise of Wilders' PVV party, which emerged as the biggest in Rotterdam after the European elections, means that a growing group of second and third generation immigrants do not feel welcome and a small but growing group are turning to radical Islam, he said.

Earth Times:

Third of Dutch Muslims contemplate emigration, poll shows

Amsterdam - Thirty-six per cent of Turkish and Moroccan migrants in the Netherlands are thinking about emigrating due to the increasing popularity of the controversial Freedom Party PVV, a study conducted by polling agency Moviction showed Monday. Dutch current affairs television programme NCRV Netwerk which commissioned the poll, is to air the study's results Monday night.

More than half of Dutch Muslims think about emigrating from the Netherlands "every once in a while," the study said.

At the same time, however, 76 per cent of Dutch Muslims say they feel at home in the Netherlands.

However, 57 per cent indicate this feeling has decreased since the rise of Geert Wilders, the controversial Freedom Party leader who is highly critical of Islam.

Two in five Dutch Muslims claim they have experienced discrimination more frequently since the rise of the Freedom Party.

Almost one quarter - 24 per cent - of Dutch Muslims say they are "regularly" being discriminated against in the Netherlands. Seventy- five per cent feel native Dutch nationals have become more negative in their views towards Muslims since Wilders' popularity increase.

Remarkably, almost one fifth of Dutch Muslims - 18 per cent - partially agrees with Wilders' political ideas, while 30 per cent say they "understand" why so many Dutch nationals vote for the PVV leader.

Public television programme NCRV Netwerk commissioned the study following the Freedom Party's victory in the elections for the European parliament on June 4.

The PVV, participating in the elections for the first time, won 4 seats, becoming the second biggest Dutch party in the European Parliament.

On June 7, a national survey conducted by polling agency peil.nl said that if general elections for the parliament were to be held in the Netherlands that day, the Freedom Party would emerge as the biggest party.

The poll said the PVV would win 31 seats, beating establishment parties Christian Democrats and Labour, at an estimated 29 and 21 seats, respectively.

The Christian Democrats and Labour, which now hold 41 and 33 seats respectively, currently make up the coalition government together with the smaller Christian Union (6 seats).