Author:
Publication: Secularislam.org
Date: February 15, 2005
Holland: Hindu temple under attack
by Muslims
Cid Martel of Dutchdisease.com has
kindly sent over this translation of a Dutch-language article. Why
is it permissible in the Dutch press to say "Hindu" but not "Muslim,"
so that we get a story about a "Hindu" temple attacked by "Moroccan"
youth? Are we supposed to believe that Moroccans as such have some
animus toward Hindus? Are we to assume that this is fallout from
some border dispute between Morocco and India? (You didn't know they
shared a border? Of course they do. It runs just southwest of Poland
China, the famous hog-breeding nation.)
A Hindu temple in The Hague, the
Ram Mandir, is frequently being attacked by a group of Moroccan youth.
Young Hindus are so fed up with the situation they want to take matters
into their own hands.
Morrocans shove dog faeces through
the mailbox and have broken into the temple twice, stolen a statue,
urinated inside and stolen money from the moneybox. Mister S. Ramdhani,
a Hindu priest, says: "They spit, don't let visitors pass through,
robbed two elderly ladies and then threatened them not to press charges.
Our secretary was attacked with a stick."
Ramdhani doesn't want young Hindus
and Moroccans to clash. "If groups start fighting each other we get
a very bad situation. We can't have that here in Holland." Ramdhani
is very embittered about the case. Last year he was given a ribbon
by the queen for his contribution to the integration of foreigners
in the neighbourhood. Every year thousands of students from The Hague
come to the temple to learn more about the Hindu faith; it's also
a haven for troubled teens. Since 9/11 Ramdhani has been trying to
reach out to Christians and Muslims.
The trouble caused by Moroccan youth
has made a dent in Ramdhani's idealism. He's thinking about no longer
attending the 9/11 meetings. "I feel discriminated against. Why they
have to choose our temple? There is a mosque nearby. Why don't they
go over there to cause trouble? They must hate the Hindu faith. Otherwise
I don't know."
Rabin Baldewsingh, a member of the
city council for the social-democrats, asked mayor Deetman for help.
The police says it's 'on the agenda'.
