"Among the PVV's manifesto pledges in Almere are a ban on halal food in hospitals, school canteens and sports clubs"

How can they justify this as not being 'religiously' motivated? Are they doing the same to Kosher food? And once again, targeting the sick and children - people who cannot fight back. Bullies make me sick.

By osita | February 24, 2010 8:52 AM

"PVV voters do not want Moroccan and Turkish families to move in because they are worried about the city becoming like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Van Praag told the Volkskrant."
I am surprise with this statement in 21st century. Discrimination if i will not call it racism. I wonder how non white dutch will be treated in the coming years.

By kwabena | February 24, 2010 9:16 AM

How quickly we forget the horrors of WW2 fascisms and white supremacy and the South African apartheid. The policy of preventing certain ethnic groups from moving in, based solely on race or religion is designed to create 'pure blood' white only cities., apart from the diverse and multicolored Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Apartheid indeed.

By lawyer | February 24, 2010 9:35 AM

That is the wilder type of "Talibanization", where a group negate the choice of even eating to another group. I believe this is the worst in a developed country.

By jerry | February 24, 2010 9:41 AM

Ahhh isn't this 2010 not 1940? We all came from Africa in the first place anyway - everyone is essentially an immigrant. I see little difference in immigrating 8000, 80 or 8 years ago. As a NZ immigrant living in The Netherlands I am ashamed of my host country harbouring such a large number with an extremist view amongst it's population.

By disgusted | February 24, 2010 1:04 PM

Osita? why should a public institution being forced to follow religious guidelines on food?? and i am not focusing in any religion..may it be Christians, muslims, buddists or whatsoever. This religious things become a nightmare. In this concept, everyone could believe in anything and demand everything! What if i believe in a god that caviar is a must..should that hospital provide me with it?? p.s. i once was in egypt in public hospital short term, because of an accident at the sea.No discussion about pork....

By kos | February 24, 2010 3:39 PM

OPEN your eyes! Working people are paying taxes over taxes to maintain this abused welfare state, the result is having PVV winning in Almere and in many more cities!.
Actually I am for integration, but you need willingness from 2 parties to complete an integration, and looking around I am afraid this is not the case. In the Netherlands and in Europe. Go and try building a Church in Rabat, try to get an unemplyment subsidium in Cairo or to get free health insurance in Ankara....

By octopussy | February 24, 2010 4:00 PM

This guy is a good indicator to see how many people in dutch society are under acceptable IQ level.

By Tom | February 24, 2010 4:52 PM

I never thought it was possible for Almere to actually become uglier.Clearly i was wrong.

By Edward Ka-Spel | February 24, 2010 5:10 PM

Kos, your example of no pork being served in the public hospital in egypt is not the same thing, since your religion probably doesn't limit you to eating only pork.

By dave | February 24, 2010 5:12 PM

Kos: I don't see hospitals, schools, etc being 'forced' to offer this food - but I do see a politician trying to BAN them from serving this food, even if they already have it on the menu. 'A ban' - do you grasp this concept? He is screaming for his freedom of speech while DICTATING what people are free to eat (or not, as is the case).

Read Anne Frank, Kos. Learn what happens when dictators choose to 'ban' particular groups within a society. Sadly it seems many dutchman choose to ignore the sacrifice made by their own ancestors just three generations ago, and embrace the rise of extremeism once more.

By osita | February 24, 2010 5:50 PM

Yes, but kos, are they banning halal but not kosher? If they do one, they should do both.

By CW | February 24, 2010 5:55 PM

In the case of halal meat, many British people object to this, on the grounds that the method of slaughter required involves cruelty to animals. Note also that, in practice, if halal meat is introduced, say in a school, what will happen is that it will be served to everyone, as this is more convenient.

By Alexandra Hardie | February 24, 2010 7:30 PM

Osita read what the people in Gaza are going through right now. And let the families of the religious bring them food if they do not want to eat what all the other patients get to survive their healing time in hospital.

By Alex Baldal | February 24, 2010 9:07 PM

Er, octopussy, have even tried googling 'church rabat'? There's been more than one there longer than you'd think. Not that has anything to do with Almere ...

By Akamsterdam | February 24, 2010 11:10 PM

My own party Nederlandse Moslim Partij (Dutch Muslim Party) is fighting the populist group of Mr.Wilders in Almere.Because we believe Mr.Wilders and his group is intending to create a civil war like situation in our country.

He have nothing to offer but Islam Bashing, creating fear and hatred in the hearts and minds of naive individuals.

Its the moral obligation of all of us to counter his fascist agenda of Neo-Nationalism which might develop a polarized society which ultimately repeat history when millions of innocent Jews were thrown in to the concentration camps resulting in to a global polarization and bloodiest conflicts.

By Khalid Ahmed Chaudry | February 25, 2010 12:24 AM

Wow wow wow. They're not banning kosher food because it ISN'T BEING SERVED in schools. Muslims are of course still allowed to eat halal food but it won't be given to them by the state. And why should it be?

The rise of the PVV isn't because "dutch people are racist lol", there's nothing racist about the PVV only a good dose of common sense.

By Del | February 25, 2010 1:27 AM

People should stop complaining. If you don´t vote, then you deserve exactly whomever comes into power. I get sick and tired of seeing allochtonen complain that they are discriminated against and yet do nothing about it. Get your self out there and vote, everyone, all colors and ethinic backgrounds, all religious backgrounds that are legally able to vote must STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS, don´t sit around whining about it and expect the world to come at your feet. You have rights to hold demonstrations and counter negative publicity. Do you think Martin Luther King got popular by just sitting on his Butt doing nothing? Get out there and use your freedom of speech rights and fight back democratically without violence as Martin Luther King did and people will respect you!

By sandrav | February 25, 2010 7:21 AM

This whole topic is ridiculous anyway. I have no sympathy for anyone who believes in the fairytale of religion

Cant eat this, that, and the other!, must cover your head!, get real people this is the 21st Century you know!.

By Paul Smith | February 25, 2010 8:06 AM

If governments (and government funded services) remained completely secular none of these issues would matter. Religion should remain in the home,religious meeting place and in the heart. To each his own.

By AW | February 25, 2010 9:05 AM

Osita: I am not Dutch.As Alexandra Hardie commented what if the halal way of "sacrificing" animals is not "humaine"? Why should a group of people tolerate that?
C.W. I dont give a damn a about kosher. I eat everything,and yes we should respect every person but when it does not come in contradiction with other groups of people..i.e. "halal" way of killing animals which is rather cruel.
dave: why should not egypt offer pork in their public hospitals?? ok it is a muslim country, but there are a lot of christians, or atheists or people from other religions.Dont these people have human rights?only muslims do? I just wonder..all these people that they have different ethic backgroud then european let's say, they do well and ask for their rights here in NL (mostly muslims)...do they do the same about their countries of origin to become more free and respect minorities there? e.g. pakistan, african countries etc?

By kos | February 25, 2010 9:53 AM