Dutch Supreme Court: Court of Appeals Has To Reconsider Earlier Decision in Ayaan-case
For those who do not know: earlier this year the Court in Amsterdam ruled in favor of Ayaan’s neighbors – in appeal – when they stated that Ayaan’s presence in their appartment building was threatening their own (sense of) safety and that she, therefore, should move. As should be obvious, Ayaan was in a protection program from the Dutch government due to the serious death threats she received (one of them being put on Theo van Gogh’s body by his murderer, Mohammed Bouyeri).
NOS Journal now reports that the Dutch Supreme Court has ruled that the Court of Amsterdam (Court of Appeals) has to revise its earlier decision. In the opinion of the DSC, the CoA spent too little attention to the duty (responsibility) of the federal government to protect its citizens.
Another victory for Ayaan and for those of us who believe that we have to support those who have the courage to speak out against the unacceptable; no matter how aggressive the opposition.
Of course we cannot be sure that the Court of Amsterdam will change its earlier opinion completely, but it is a step towards the right direction. If the Supreme Court would have accepted the logic of the CoA, those who are now and in the future will be under government protection would have a terribly hard time finding a place where they can live (except for on a military base of course).
15 Responses to “Dutch Supreme Court: Court of Appeals Has To Reconsider Earlier Decision in Ayaan-case”
Didn’t she move to the US?
Yes
which is why it is only ‘morally’ important to Ayaan BUT it IS important to those who are PRESENTLY in government protection programs since the precedent set by the court in Amsterdam is very dangerous.
I don’t know how much the government affects people’s opinions there but I hope that something is done so the populace regains the sense of justice they had during WWII when it came to their helping of the jews. I’ve always thought that the Dutch had a proud history of standing up for liberal values even in the face of danger.
Mikkel. In the Netherlands, relatively the most Jews were taken away and killed by the Nazis during WW2.
Yeah but didn’t the populace try (mostly unsuccessfully) to protect them? Or was that Denmark? I must admit I get the two confused.
There were a lot of Dutchmen who tried to hide Jews. But the far majority did not resist (for a long time). The resistance was the faaaaaaaaar minority.
Oops, it was Denmark. I get Dutch mixed up with Danish…I think people of the Netherlands should be called Nethers so it’s easy to remember. In any case, I hope the Dutch (well actually liberals around the world) take the Danish spirit and revive it!
Well, the Dutch are famous for our believe in liberal ideas. We once were a safe haven for free thinkers and are still extremely liberal. So that part of your comment was correct, but not the part about WW2.
The Dutch, the Danish, who the heck can tell the difference? They all look the same to me.
Just teasing of course, Mikkel.
C.S. true.
Just like the Canadians and Americans.
Well, with this difference: Canadians are less violent.
i don’t know, the RCMP are quite intimidating.
MvdG and cfpete: LOL
Ah, Dutch, Danish, same thing, right? Just remember, the Danish are the ones who sound like they have a boiled potato in their mouth when they speak. (Michael, have you ever heard that joke, or is it purely a Scandinavian one?) Dutch is a less blurry language, in my opinion (and probably by any objective standard, as well.)
Mikkel, as you figured out, it was Denmark who rescued the overwhelming majority of their Jews. They accepted occupation quietly, because to do anything else would have been suicidal. However, as the Germans started violating the initial conditions of the occupation, Danish resistance grew.
If you want a very accessible and relatively concise but comprehensive survey of the Danish resistance and the rescue of the Jews (which they do not consider to be two separate things but part and parcel of each other), I very highly recommend the book Darkness Over Denmark by Ellen Levine. The intended audience is actually upper elementary and middle scools students, but I did’t feel that it was in any way unsuitable for an adult who who wanted a concise account. The author interviewed a number of Danes who had lived through it, and the book is made up of both historical narrative and personal accounts.
Who cares? The Dutch have spoken and they don’t care for Hirsi Ali. Welcome to America, baby! Land of the Free! Glad to have ya’!
C Stanley,
Don’t worry! You aren’t the only one who can’t tell the difference: watch Michelle Malkin’s short video “Takbir!” for another example of failing to distinguish the Dutch from the Danes.