© www.japantimes.co.jpDutch gather to protest plans to open a refugee center in Heesh, Netherlands
Anti-refugee protesters have held rallies in the Netherlands and Germany as Europe continues to grapple with an unprecedented influx of refugees mainly from war-torn Middle Eastern states.
On Monday, anti-immigration protesters took to the streets in the Dutch town of Heesh in protest at the planned opening of a refugee center in the town.
The gathering turned ugly as police tried to disperse the demonstrators who were throwing fireworks. Police made several arrests. There were also a number of injuries. The rally came after officials held a meeting on Monday to discuss plans of accommodating some 500 refugees over the next 10 years. Demonstrators say the figure is a disproportionally high number for a town of some 12,500 people.
On Monday, far-right
Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders demanded that all Muslim male refugees be incarcerated in their asylum centers in Europe, claiming that such a move was necessary to protect women on the streets. Wilders made the remarks in a video for his Freedom Party (PVV) following the recent sexual assaults against women in the German city of Cologne on New Year's Eve.
Counter-rallies in GermanyAlso on Monday evening,
supporters and opponents of the German anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant PEGIDA movement held rallies in Munich to protest Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policies and what they call the Islamification of the European country. Several minor scuffles broke out as pro-refugees known as antifa attempted to block the far-right PEGIDA group's regular Monday march. However, police intervened to keep a distance between the two groups. A similar protest rally was held in the western city of Duisburg on Monday.
Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees who are fleeing conflict-hit zones in North Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria. Many blame major European powers for the exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and wars, forcing people out of their homes.
According to figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
more than one million refugees reached Europe's shores in 2015. More than 3,300 people either died or went missing in their hazardous journey to the continent.
Comment: When a law is used to shame someone into self-mutilation there's something very wrong with the law and the people that agree to follow it. Honestly, who in their right mind praises a child for cutting off their own hand over such a simple misunderstanding!?
UPDATE: The imam who let this happen has been arrested. Well, it's a start!