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You are here: Home News Dutch News Dutch foreign minister lashes out at Wilders

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10/04/2009Dutch foreign minister lashes out at Wilders

Maxime Verhagen says Wilders is turning Netherlands into a country of "us against them”.

THE NETHERLANDS – Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has issued a stinging criticism of the Freedom Party's leader Geert Wilders.

Speaking on Wednesday evening at the Movies that Matter festival in The Hague, Verhagen said Wilders used generalisations to sow discord and pit different groups of people against one another.

According to the minister, Wilders is forcing people to centre their identities on their religion – which is just one factor in their lives. He added that Wilders' remarks were dividing the Netherlands into a country and “us against them” and that he did not wish to live in such a land.

“This is not the Netherlands, where I want to live. I want to live in the Netherlands of shared values,” said Verhagen.

The minister sees respect and human rights as a glue that binds people together. He also believes that Muslims should be able to practice their religion in the Netherlands.

Radio Netherlands / Expatica


2 reactions to this article

bob23bob posted: 2009-04-11 09:34:26

Verhagen: "I want to live in the Netherlands of shared values"!
What kind of values does Dutch society share with Islam?

Daniel Lang posted: 2009-04-11 09:54:17

It seems that another Dutch politician has their head in the sand. Mrs. Verhagen, it is not a case of "us against them," but rather, them against us. If foreigners want to live in Holland and be like the Dutch, they need to be like us, not the other way around!

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2 reactions to this article

bob23bob posted: 2009-04-11 09:34:26

Verhagen: "I want to live in the Netherlands of shared values"!
What kind of values does Dutch society share with Islam?

Daniel Lang posted: 2009-04-11 09:54:17

It seems that another Dutch politician has their head in the sand. Mrs. Verhagen, it is not a case of "us against them," but rather, them against us. If foreigners want to live in Holland and be like the Dutch, they need to be like us, not the other way around!

Add a comment
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