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Internet platform for studying Xenophobia, Radicalism and Problems of Intercultural communication.

Recommendations

Recommendations

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that the Netherlands is losing the image of the most tolerant country in Europe. The collapse of the integration policy, the growth in the number of migrants who are not ready to join the assimilation model of integration, the growing inevitability of the Islamist Salafi factions accompanying this process, along with right-wing radical forces, have all led to an increase in ethnic and religious intolerance. Unlike Germany, anti-Semitic sentiments are prevalent mainly among the Muslim population of the country. Thus, the electoral success of the right-wing Freedom Party is no surprise.

The Dutch authorities have been paying great attention to the fight against Islamic terrorism. Some progress has been made here - anti-extremist laws actually to strengthen the security of the state in terms of countering jihadism. However, the Dutch government failed to cope with the equally important problem of hate speech, as well as the multi-layered problem of discrimination against immigrants and refugees from Asia and Africa. In addition, during the investigation after the death of 42-year-old Arubi Mitch Henriquez, who was beaten and strangled to death by members of the Dutch police in The Hague, the problems of institutional racism in the Dutch police became apparent.

In order to overcome these alarming trends, a number of urgent measures must be taken:

  1. It is necessary to amend the legislation of the Netherlands, which would focus not only on protecting general human rights, but also on protecting the rights of specific groups of the population. It is necessary to draw a clear line between freedom of speech and its abuse, punishing those who have crossed this line.
  2. It is necessary to revive large-scale integration programs that existed before. At the same time, there is a need for clear educational work with a number of programs covering primarily young people and children, as the most susceptible part of the population. It is important to revive the formal dialogue between the state and organisations representing national and religious minorities. Today, such a dialogue is ceased by the government and there is no doubt that radical forces will take advantage of the vacuum that has been created, which we can observe from the experience of such countries as France, Belgium and Germany.
  3. The Government should include skin color, language, and national or ethnic origin as separate grounds for discrimination in its criminal law.
  4. The Government should explicitly provide in the penal code that racist motivation is an aggravating circumstance in the commission of any ordinary crime.
  5. To prevent the radicalisation of the Muslim community, it is necessary to cooperate with its leaders, together with severe punishment for persons who preach hatred. Law enforcement agencies should be provided with the necessary tools to counter terrorism. At the same time, they must be purged of persons professing xenophobic views. Urgent action must be taken to eradicate institutional racism in the Dutch authorities, especially the police.
  6. The Equal Treatment Act should be amended to clarify the legal status of immigrants and refugees. The government should work towards a humane, effective policy on migration and integration at both national and EU level, a policy that will improve opportunities for newcomers and encourage their participation in society soon after their arrival.
  7. Hate crime registration should not be restricted.

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