Dutch researcher who exposed anti-Semitism hid out based on mayor’s advice
A Dutch-Turkish researcher who exposed anti-Semitism
among Muslims went into hiding, following the advice of a Dutch mayor.
Mehmet Sahin left his home for several days last month
after being advised by Pauline Krikke, the mayor of the eastern city of Arnhem,
according to De Telegraaf daily.
Sahin, a researcher at Amsterdam’s Vrije Universiteit,
said he received death threats after a Dutch television show in February aired
filmed interviews he conducted with Dutch-Turkish youths who made anti-Semitic
statements.
One interviewee said, “I am more than pleased with what
Hitler did to the Jews.” Another said, “I hate Jews, period. Nothing you will
do will make me change my mind.”
A spokesperson for Arnhem said Krikke advised Sahin
"to temporarily stay elsewhere to ensure peace for himself and for
others.”
The television channel NTR reported that Sahin checked
into a nearby hotel with his wife and two children. Sahin told NTR he has
received death threats in emails and does not feel safe in his neighborhood. He
has since returned home, according to NTR.
Last month, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a
number of measures to be taken in cooperation with the Center for Information
and Documentation on Israel, or CIDI. They include plans “to discuss
anti-Semitism with young people,” Rutte wrote in his reply to the Simon
Wiesenthal Center, which had written to the prime minister to express the
center’s concern.
“We will also begin discussions with the Turkish
Community Advisory Association on anti-Semitism,” Rutte wrote, adding, “As I
write, there are also several surveys being conducted to deepen our
understanding of the nature and extent of anti-Semitism in the Netherlands.”
Comments
Post a Comment