The Association of Moroccan-Dutch People (SMN) has reacted with dismay to the huge election gains of the anti-Islam Freedom Party. Geert Wilders’ party almost tripled its number of seats in the 150-member Lower House to 24.
The Moroccan group says “it is a smack in the face of Dutch people of Moroccan descent”. The organisation says it received many reactions, expressing pain at the thought that so many people voted for a party which sees no future for Islam in the Netherlands.
SMN Chairman Farid Azarkan said, “Moroccan-Dutch are now wondering whether their neighbours and colleagues still see them as fellow citizens of this country, and whether there is a safe future here for them and their children.”
But he adds, “We must remember that most people in the Netherlands did not vote for the Freedom Party. That is a sign of hope. A very large majority of the Dutch population wants pluriformity and diversity. That is the Netherlands that we are so familiar with: a country of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and solidarity.”
The Freedom Party has not commented on the statement.