Netherlands: Demonstrations after Wilders' election victory
Amsterdam dpa - Following the major election victory of right-wing populist Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, hundreds of people have demonstrated against discrimination, racism and hatred of Islam in several cities across the country. Social organizations called for a large rally in Amsterdam on Friday.
According to media reports, several hundred people had already gathered in Amsterdam on Dam Square, the central square in the city center, on Thursday evening. They warned against hatred of Islam and xenophobia. The rally had initially begun as a demonstration for Palestinian rights and against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.
According to media reports, around a thousand people also gathered at the town hall in Utrecht. They chanted "You are not alone" and warned that fundamental rights apply to all citizens.
The reason for the protests was the election victory of Wilders' anti-Islam party on Wednesday. The Party for Freedom (PVV) won 37 of the 150 parliamentary seats and now has the task of forming a government.
The protests in Amsterdam and Utrecht were not just about Palestinian rights and Israel's attacks on Gaza, but also served as a response to Geert Wilders' election victory and his Party for Freedom's anti-Islam stance, which secured 37 seats in the Dutch Parliament. The demonstrations continued to call for the protection of fundamental rights for all citizens, expressing concerns about potential discrimination, racism, and hatred towards Muslims in light of Wilders' victory.
Source: www.dpa.com
