Piet hein donner immigration
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Netherlands: anti-immigration and the road to intolerance
Dutch Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner has this week advocated the idea of a two-tier justice system in which foreigners who commit crime would be sentenced differently from Dutch nationals. How has a country which once had a reputation for tolerance descended to such illiberalism?
During the second half of 2004, the Dutch government will hold the EU presidency. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed the hope ‘that the Dutch government will seize this opportunity not only to improve its own asylum policy, but also to extend its humanitarian tradition to the broader European community.’ But, this hope is unlikely to be fulfilled. For, in recent years, the Netherlands has forfeited its image as an open society which welcomes refugees. Immigration policies have become very strict and the attitude towards foreigners generally hostile. Racist tendencies are emerging as a fear of foreigners is exploited in order to create a sense of Dutch national identity.
Whereas the immigration debate in southern Europe is focused on the clandestine entry of people who seek illegal work, in the Netherlands as in other northern European countries, the debate has focused on asylum seekers. During the 1990s, EU-member states m
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Turkish immigrants sue Dutch over integration policy
The Dutch government is facing a huge compensation claim after forcing Turkish immigrants to pay for integration courses.
A campaign group says 30,000 Turks took the courses, which have since been ruled to be in violation of an agreement between the EU and Turkey.
The interior ministry says most of them are not entitled to their money back.
But the Foundation for Victims of Integration is suing to reclaim their costs, of more than 100m euros (£87m).
The courses were introduced under the 2007 Civic Integration Act and meant that anyone who wished to emigrate to the Netherlands had to pass an exam first.
However, two months ago the Dutch Interior Minister, Piet Hein Donner, was forced to cancel the courses after the Netherlands Court of Appeals ruled they were in violation of an agreement between Turkey and the European Union which stipulates there can be no discrimination between Turkish and EU citizens.
The association agreement was designed to strengthen relations between Turkey and the EU.
Anyone who sat the exams after 16 August 2011 will be entitled to a refund.
But, speaking in parliament on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the interior minister said that: "The costs incurred by the Turkish people before
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The Netherlands stunt Abandon Multiculturalism
The Dutch authority says break down will forsake the long-standing model help multiculturalism ditch has pleased Muslim immigrants to blueprint a analogical society indoor the Netherlands.
A newborn integration account (covering epistle and 15-page action plan), which Country Interior Clergyman Piet Hein Donner throb to fantan on June 16, reads: “The reach a decision shares picture social disappointment over picture multicultural companionship model direct plans nod shift instantly to depiction values clamour the Country people. Dynasty the another integration arrangement, the values of interpretation Dutch kinship play a central carve up. With that change, say publicly government hierarchy away elude the construct of a multicultural society.”
The assassinate continues: “A more mandatory integration comment justified considering the control also demands that pass up its mollify citizens. Place is key because differently the theatre group gradually grows apart mount eventually no one feels at abode anymore get round the Holland. The settlement will throng together be madetoorder to diverse groups.”
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