The Netherlands Uses State Apparatus to Defend IDF Atrocities Across Borders
The Netherlands, despite its historical narrative as a ‘haven of tolerance and freedom’, is no stranger to the impulse to abuse its state power.
Dutch adults dressing up as “Black Pete”, a tradition to amuse Dutch Children during the “Sinterklaas” festival.
In the quietude of his Belgian home, Dyab Abou Jahjah, an intellectual and leader of the #March30Movement, experienced an intrusion that reverberates with ominous implications for freedom of speech across Europe. The incident, involving Dutch authority's reach extending into Belgium to suppress a tweet (!) critical of the IDF's actions, lays bare the precarious state of dissent in an era where borders seem irrelevant to the arm of censorship.
The plainclothes officers who arrived at Abou Jahjah's door, purportedly at the behest of the Dutch state and facilitated through Interpol, represent more than an overzealous law enforcement exercise. They are the harbingers of a chilling future where freedom of expression is curtailed by state power that knows no bounds, where criticism is stifled by the specter of authority that crosses national lines with impunity.
This transnational policing of online dissent calls into question the Dutch government's commitment to the democratic principle of free speech. The selective silencing of a voice from neighboring Belgium, who dared to castigate the conduct of Israeli soldiers, underscores a worrying trend: the prioritization of political (or racial) interests over fundamental human rights. It is a stark reminder that the right to speak one's mind is under threat, not only within the confines of one's country but from external forces that seek to dictate the discourse.
A Tradion of Dutch Fascism
The Netherlands, despite its historical narrative as a ‘haven of tolerance and freedom’, is no stranger to the impulse to abuse its state power and control the narrative. During the darkest days of the Second World War, the Netherlands was not merely a silent witness to the horrors that unfolded within its borders. The Dutch state, through its willing collaboration with Nazi occupiers, was responsible for the highest number of Jewish deportations and killings in Western Europe. As a consequence, the Dutch annihilated three quarters of its Jewish community. This historical fact, this active participation in one of humanity's greatest tragedies, casts a long and somber shadow over the current situation.
It is therefore unsurprising that a recent study revealed that 12% of Dutch respondents believe the Holocaust is a myth, placing the Netherlands at the unfortunate top of the list in terms of Holocaust denial. This finding aligns with a broader trend of historical ignorance and denial, which undermines the collective responsibility to remember and learn from past atrocities. The Netherlands also ranked at the top in a recent YouGov poll, with 50% of Dutch respondents expressing pride in Dutch colonialism. This statistic is telling, considering that human rights abuses, the implementation of systems of apartheid — a Dutch word — and slavery were integral to Dutch imperialism. It reflects a need for critical self-reflection and a more nuanced understanding of the impact of colonialism.
Abou Jahjah's encounter with Dutch authority is emblematic of the resilience of those who stand against the tide of repression. His response, and the solidarity expressed by the #March30Movement, illustrates that the spirit of dissent cannot be quelled by intimidation or cross-border incursions. This collective strength is the bulwark against the erosion of rights and freedoms that we have fought so hard to attain.
Today, as we confront the Dutch state's defense of the IDF's conduct through acts of transnational policing, we must recognize the gravity of this moment. The state, in its role as both historical perpetrator and modern-day censor, has demonstrated an alarming continuity. The right to speak against the machinery of war—be it the IDF's or any other—is a sacred tenet of democratic society, a right that must be defended against all who would seek to abrogate it, whether through direct action or through the chilling effect of state intimidation.
In a world where the voices of critique are increasingly under siege, the imperative for vigilance and solidarity has never been greater. As the Dutch authorities extend their reach into Belgium, the defense of freedom of expression becomes a shared responsibility, transcending borders and uniting us in the common cause of preserving our democratic ideals. It is only through unwavering commitment to these principles that we can ensure that the future is not one where dissent is a memory, but where it continues to be the lifeblood of a vibrant, democratic society.