A group protested against the ugly attack organized by Edwin Wagensveld, the leader of the PEGIDA movement. When the group, which wanted to prevent the attack on the Holy Quran, wanted to intervene in the PEGIDA movement, chaos broke out.
3 POLICE POLICE INJURED, 3 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
In the statement, it was stated that PEGIDA’s show was ended due to a fight between the group members and the police, and that three people were detained on the grounds that they did not comply with the police instructions, and three police officers were slightly injured.
It was noted that the PEGIDA leader was also taken under protection by the police.
MOROCCO MAYOR: BURNING SCRIPTURES IS NOT FORBIDDEN
Arnhem Mayor Ahmed Marcouch, who is of Moroccan origin, said in his statement that burning a holy book is not prohibited in the Netherlands.
Marcouch stated that it is understandable that such an action affects people and said that resorting to violence is unacceptable.
In the Netherlands, mayors have the right to ban demonstrations in cases where public order is expected to be disrupted.
“HATE CRIME WAS IGNORED”
Equivalent Party Arnhem Municipal Council Member Yıldırım Usta, in his press release, criticized Marcouch for allowing PEGIDA to attack the Holy Quran.
Usta said, “This clearly hate crime, committed under the pretext of freedom of thought, was ignored. The police’s attitude towards Muslim demonstrators with dogs did nothing more than escalate the tension. We will take various initiatives in the municipal council to take more effective measures in order to protect our society and take a strong stance against acts of hate.” .” he said.
PROVOCATIONS AGAINST THE QURAN ARE INCREASING IN THE NETHERLANDS
In Wagensveld’s attacks against the Quran in different cities in the country in 2022 and 2023, it was reported that the police would intervene if he burned the Quran, since lighting fires in public spaces is prohibited according to the regulation on public order and security.
PEGIDA movement leader Wagensveld tore the Holy Quran under police protection in front of the temporary Dutch parliament building in The Hague on January 22 last year, and during a demonstration he held alone in Utrecht on February 13.
Similarly, PEGIDA’s action, which planned to burn the Holy Quran in Rotterdam on October 22, 2022, ended before it started with Wagensveld’s detention.
Muslim groups gathered at the place where the demonstration in Rotterdam was planned organized a counter-demonstration because PEGIDA had announced that they would burn the Quran, but the demonstration was not banned.
Wagensveld, who was released on the same day after being detained, wanted to carry out a similar protest in The Hague the next day, but the police detained Wagensveld again on the grounds that he did not comply with the demonstration rules.
Wagensveld tore the Holy Quran in front of Turkey’s Embassy in The Hague on 18 August and 23 September last year.
(AA)
