Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Let me blow off some steam. Here I am, a Moroccan Dutchman who has worked hard all his life, initiated projects to promote brotherhood and inclusivity through community portals that have become known in this country. Since 2003, I have been fighting against how people like me are treated. To this day, I am not judged on what I can do but on my culture, religion, and background, even though I am just a Dutchman. And I am simply fed up with it.
We worked hard to integrate, become Dutch
My family and I have tried our best to integrate throughout our lives. My father and his generation worked hard to give us a better life. We learned Dutch, adapted, and contributed to the community. But in the eyes of some, like those of the PVV, we will always remain “the other.”
Consider this infamous statement by Wilders: “Fewer, fewer, fewer Moroccans.” Seriously, what did he think he would achieve with that? It was purely a marketing stunt to sow fear. The result? A conviction for inciting discrimination.
Wilders and the PVV often base their statements on emotions rather than facts. They create an enemy image without any evidence that reducing the Moroccan community in the Netherlands would have any positive effect.
And then we have the recent statements about Gaza. PVV Member of Parliament Dennis Ram claimed that there is no food crisis there, while international organizations like the United Nations have clearly stated that the humanitarian situation is severe.
But why bother with facts when you have an audience that prefers to hear fear and hatred? This is simply a cheap trick to win more votes by sowing division.
The problem is that this kind of rhetoric is not limited to the Netherlands. Throughout Europe, you see the rise of right-wing populist parties using the same tactics.
They collaborate with figures like Marine Le Pen in France and the Alternative für Deutschland in Germany. They share an anti-immigration and eurosceptic agenda, all based on the same kind of misinformation and fear-mongering. They are even influenced by right-wing movements in the US, where similar rhetoric is used.
Let’s take a closer look at the facts if you still need convincing about the dangerous normalization of far-right populism in the West.
According to research by RTL Nieuws, Islamic schools in the Netherlands consistently rank among the top performers, with an average score of 7.4 on the CITO test. The CITO test is a standardized exam used in Dutch primary schools to assess students’ academic abilities and determine their future educational paths.
The PVV can go to hell
And then there’s the nonsense about dual nationality. The fact is that only 5% of the Dutch population has dual nationality, and this does not provide any evidence of less loyalty to the Netherlands.
As a creative visual designer who has worked on many international and national video productions, I was amazed when Wilders published that video about Islam and the Quran. It was amateurish and not professional at all, even though he is funded by larger parties. I really thought, “Jesus, what an amateur! An amateur who wants to be a professional!”
I have a Dutch passport and feel fully Dutch. I love this country with all its quirky customs and beautiful traditions. But still, I am constantly told that I don’t really belong. That I am a problem. That there should be fewer of me. Seriously? After sixty years of my family and me showing that we are part of this society, this nonsense just continues.
The PVV can go to hell with their hate-mongering rhetoric. They don’t know what they are talking about. They don’t see the contribution we make, the effort we put in, the love we have for this country. They are too busy spreading fear and division.
I will always stay here, I will always live here, and I have a Dutch passport. Anyone who doesn’t want me here can go to hell. This will only be a motivation in the future to position myself even better in this country, so I can have a stronger voice and ensure that the PVV’s hateful slogans are curbed. Because the Netherlands is built on facts, structure, and organization, and hearing both sides. And that is the Netherlands I believe in and will keep fighting for.
I am here, will stay here, will remain for the rest of my life. And I will continue to work hard for the rest of my life and enjoy the opportunities this country offers. I will eagerly seize these opportunities to position myself even better, to be an even stronger voice, to write even more against all this nonsense. I am fed up, and I refuse to accept this.
