Fear Rattles Dutch Muslims
This editorial addresses dozens of concerns we have received directly from Dutch Muslims; a Call for Immediate Protection and Responsible Leadership
Freemuslims’s Inclusion Forum is deeply alarmed by recent developments in the Netherlands, where multiple mosques have received blood-stained threat letters, accompanied by explicit messages of intimidation and violence. These acts are not merely symbolic; they represent a dangerous escalation in anti-Muslim hostility and are intended to instill fear within an already vulnerable community.
According to reports from Dutch Muslim organizations, and international media, at least eight mosques across different regions of the Netherlands were targeted with these blood-marked threats. Such acts strike at the very foundation of religious freedom and coexistence in a country long regarded as a defender of pluralism and human rights. When houses of worship are targeted in this manner, the threat extends beyond property — it becomes a direct threat to human safety, dignity, and democratic values.
According to Dutch Muslims, Mosques across the Netherlands- Including in major cities such as Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Arnhem, Tilburg, and the Haque have received worrying and alarming hate-filled letters smeared by substance resembling blood, containing defamatory language, derogatory imagery and anti-Islam rhetoric.
Mosques are not only places of prayer; they are community centers, educational spaces, and sanctuaries for families, elders, and children. Threats against them must be treated with the highest level of seriousness by authorities. Failure to act decisively risks emboldening further attacks, not only in the Netherlands but across Europe.
A Broader Pattern Across Europe and the West
While the Netherlands demands urgent and focused attention, it is important to recognize that these incidents are not occurring in isolation. Across Europe and other Western democracies, Muslim communities are reporting increased hostility.
In the United Kingdom, watchdog groups have documented a record rise in mosque attacks and vandalism, including arson attempts such as the attack on a mosque in East Sussex. In Australia, civil society monitors have reported sharp increases in Islamophobic incidents, with some organizations citing rises exceeding 150% in physical attacks and over 200% in online abuse in recent periods. These statistics, referenced by outlets such as Al Jazeera and national equality bodies, reflect a worrying normalization of anti-Muslim sentiment.
What is particularly concerning is that Muslim women remain among the most frequent targets. The hijab — a visible expression of faith — has increasingly become a trigger for harassment, threats, and physical assault. This gendered dimension of Islamophobia must not be ignored; it compounds both religious and gender-based discrimination.
Muslim Commitment to Protecting Life and Society
At the same time, it is essential to reaffirm a truth that is too often overlooked: Muslim communities consistently demonstrate commitment to the safety and well-being of all people, regardless of faith or background.
In Australia, during a recent violent attack that shocked the nation, a Muslim man intervened to protect others, acting instinctively to save lives despite personal risk. His actions were not driven by politics or identity, but by the fundamental human value shared across Muslim teachings — the sanctity of life. This moment, while not requiring glorification or repetition, stands as a quiet rebuttal to narratives that portray Muslims as threats rather than contributors to public safety.
Such examples reflect a broader reality: Muslims are not outsiders to social cohesion — they are often among its strongest defenders.
Our Call for Immediate Action
On behalf of Freemuslims Inclusion Forum, we urge the governments of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia, and allied democracies to take immediate and visible steps:
• Ensure enhanced protection for mosques and Islamic centers, particularly in light of credible threats.
• Investigate and prosecute hate-based threats with urgency, treating them as serious criminal acts rather than symbolic intimidation.
• Publicly reassure Muslim communities, especially women and families, that their safety is a national priority.
• Adopt clear national strategies to address Islamophobia, grounded in education, prevention, and accountability.
• Encourage cross-community leadership, where political figures, media, and minority groups actively reduce tension rather than inflame fear.
Silence or delay in the face of such threats sends the wrong message — not only to Muslim communities, but national security of the Netherlands or any other country in Europe. If one minority is attacked, all minorities are at risk and may be next target of discrimination and hatred.
The situation in the Netherlands is a warning sign. Governments must intervene before intimidation turns into violence, and before fear replaces trust. Protecting Muslim communities is not a concession; it is a reaffirmation of democratic principles, human rights, and shared humanity.
Freemuslims Inclusion Forum stands firmly for peace, coexistence, and the protection of all communities — and we will continue to speak out when those principles are threatened.
