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26/11/2008Moroccan brats and disrespectful Dutch

Moroccan brats and disrespectful Dutch What is the underlying cause of the tensions between the so-called young Moroccan scoundrels and contempt-filled Dutch? A debate on stereotypes and misinformation

Radio Netherlands Worldwide held a debate about this topic in the Moroccan capital Rabat on the occasion of the official launching of its radio programmes in Arabic. Dutch Deputy Social Affairs Minister Ahmed Aboutaleb spoke of the importance of providing information in Arabic.
 
Sanae el Aji, a reporter for the critical weekly Nichane, says the Dutch belief that every Arab objects to the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad is nothing but a stereotype. 
 
She also objects to the way Arab media often portray Western women - as willing and available. On the other hand, she thinks Europeans look upon Moroccans as backwards. El Aji also cannot understand why Europeans only look upon the hijab (headscarf) as a symbol of oppression.
 
Lashing
As if she wanted to stress El Aji's point, a female student with a headscarf stood up in the packed conference room and gave the editor of a Moroccan radio station a lashing.

She said the station had refused to let her work there as a trainee because of her hijab. 

At the Radio Netherlands Worldwide debate in Morocco © RNW
In an interview before the debate, the Dutch deputy social affairs minister of Moroccan origin, Ahmed Aboutaleb, said the Netherlands underestimated the importance of the role it played. 

"We call ourselves a small country. Which we are, as far as size and population. However, we have the world's 16th largest economy. It is no coincidence that the Netherlands was invited to the G20 summit in Washington."
 
In any event, the Netherlands was repeatedly mentioned when it came to the media and stereotypes. The union of Moroccan journalists condemned the anti-Islamic film Fitna, which was produced by the populist politician Geert Wilders. It said: "Extremism leads to extremism." It was also concerned about the way Moroccan migrants are treated in the Netherlands.
 
Drinking tea too often 
The director of the Al-Jazeera television news station in Morocco, Hassan Rachidi - whose license was revoked by the Moroccan authorities earlier this year - spoke of a hardening in attitudes in the Netherlands, particularly concerning the image of migrants. Mr Rachidi, who worked in Hilversum for Radio Netherlands Worldwide 20 years ago, has seen a change in the Netherlands since the attacks of 11 September 2001 and the murder of Theo van Gogh. 

Ahmed Aboutaleb speaking in Rabat to a visitor of the Radio Netherlands Worldwide © RNW
Mr Aboutaleb is a celebrity in Morocco. The news that he would become mayor of Rotterdam received headlines. This week he was again on the cover of a Moroccan magazine. Before the formation of the cabinet many observers thought he would receive the post of Integration. However, he reportedly told the party leader: "If you want to give me a ministry, remember one thing: I will refuse to accept the Integration Ministery."
 
He says the forced resignation of Housing and Integration Minister Ella Vogelaar on Thursday is an example. He thinks the main reason she resigned was because "she spent too much time drinking tea with Moroccans". 

Training gets go-ahead 
Mr Aboutaleb, who will become mayor of Rotterdam in January emphasised the importance of Radio Netherlands Worldwide's Arabic-language broadcasts.
"The changes which have taken place in Morocco in the past few years, in particular the abolition of censorship, have provided the media with a big impulse. However, as far as quality is concerned it is a long way from being what it should be. Not everything is reliable."
 
The Arab department of Radio Netherlands Worldwide broadcasts to the Middle East and the Maghreb every evening. The programme Huna Amsterdam (This is Amsterdam Calling) provides news, background information and commentary about the region and the Netherlands. It also hopes to provide a podium for discussion on the radio and internet.

And the student with the hijab? After the debate she said she the radio had decided to let her work as a trainee.
Click here for Radio Netherlands Worldwide's Arabic website.
 
23 November 2008
 
Nicolien Den Boer
Radio Netherlands


1 reaction to this article

Andrea posted: 2008-12-10 13:02:46

'What is the underlying cause of the tensions between the so-called young Moroccan scoundrels and contempt-filled Dutch?' -- Contempt-filled Dutch? In my experience, and that of many, if not most, of my Dutch friends, it is the Moroccan people (especially the men) who are 'contempt-filled' for the Dutch (especially the women). As for 'the way Arab media often portray(s) Western women - as willing and available.' Having lived in Morocco as a Western woman (albeit a long time ago) I can assure you that this is EXACTLY how the majority of Arabs view Western women.

Furthermore, far from Moroccan migrants being treated badly (as insinuated in your article) in the Netherlands, I would opine that they are, in fact, treated with kid gloves and get away with crimes for which a Dutch person would surely pay.

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1 reaction to this article

Andrea posted: 2008-12-10 13:02:46

'What is the underlying cause of the tensions between the so-called young Moroccan scoundrels and contempt-filled Dutch?' -- Contempt-filled Dutch? In my experience, and that of many, if not most, of my Dutch friends, it is the Moroccan people (especially the men) who are 'contempt-filled' for the Dutch (especially the women). As for 'the way Arab media often portray(s) Western women - as willing and available.' Having lived in Morocco as a Western woman (albeit a long time ago) I can assure you that this is EXACTLY how the majority of Arabs view Western women.

Furthermore, far from Moroccan migrants being treated badly (as insinuated in your article) in the Netherlands, I would opine that they are, in fact, treated with kid gloves and get away with crimes for which a Dutch person would surely pay.

Add a comment
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