Dutch Muslim students resist Holocaust education

by John Brodgian | March 7, 2015 10:54 am

In the Netherlands, there are a number of Dutch schools who refrain from teaching about the Holocaust[1], because of the resistance from some of the Muslim pupils.  The teachers, some of who are Muslim themselves, try teaching about it but the students aren’t hearing it…

[2]

“Holocaust survivor Bloeme Evers does not dare give guest lessons in some schools,” Arie Slob, the party’s parliamentary leader and a former history teacher, told the daily, describing the discussion. “I am horrified by this. It is unacceptable that 70 years after the Holocaust, anti-Semitism in the Netherlands is growing.”

Among the teachers in attendance was Wissam Feriani, a social studies teacher who works at a vocational high school in Amsterdam where approximately half of the students are Muslim.

“The teacher says Jews, the pupils say Gaza,” said Feriani, who is Muslim. “The teacher says Holocaust, the pupils say it’s all bullshit.” In class, he adds, “It’s always the Jews’ fault. Some pupils say they [Jews] don’t belong. It’s difficult.” There are no available figures on the difficulties examined, the report said.

The Christian Union party held a discussion with teachers and other educational professionals to discuss the matter.  Many of the educators are troubled at the anti-Semitism that is growing in the Netherlands.