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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'.
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