Arnhem, Netherlands: Europe and the Arabs
The mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Markouch, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation of Syrian refugees in the city, revealing the policies of the Minister for Refugees, Mona Kaiser. For several months, Mayor Markouch has been dissatisfied with the situation his city has reached due to the rise and increase in acts of violence and disturbances perpetrated by approximately 100 Syrian refugees, according to Dutch journalist of Moroccan origin, Noureddine Amrani, in written statements to Europe and the Arabs. He added: "This is due to the fact that these refugees are without parents and are transferred from one center to another, making them unstable. Ahmed Markouch had previously warned about this situation and its repercussions on the community in Arnhem, but he did not find a receptive ear from Mona Kaiser, the Minister for Refugees from the Farmers' Party (BBP). This is what the mayor expressed in his latest interview with the Amsterdam newspaper, Het Parool: "The acts of violence and disturbance by young refugees have reached an intolerable level." "There's no more time," says Mayor Marcouch. This is a cry for help from the mayor of Arnhem in his battle against the harassment of young refugees. "Give them clarity, and faster." According to Amrani, in response to Mayor Marcouch's statements and concerns, Minister Monika Kaiser expressed disagreement with his portrayal. She believes that by making such a statement, she is trying to "beautify" her refugee policy while simultaneously defending the positions of her party, ECOWAS, which suffered a political setback in the Netherlands during the snap parliamentary elections. In response to Mayor Marcouch's assertion that he has her phone number and should have contacted her to discuss the harassment of young Syrians and explore possible solutions, this stance is, of course, merely a smokescreen for Arnhem officials who are waiting for a policy that facilitates the integration of Syrian refugees into Dutch society and avoids further restricting them through the relocation policies implemented by the Ministry of Immigration and Refugees. He adds... Noureddine reports that Arnhem has been dealing for months with a group of about 100 young Syrians causing disturbances and violence. Markusch first raised this concern on this platform last September, then again in the newspaper Parool on Saturday, and once more on Friday. He said, "Young refugees who come to the Netherlands without their parents stay too short in reception centers, which doesn't allow them to integrate or settle in. Before they know it, they're moved to a new location."

"The violence and disturbances by these young refugees have become unbearable," Markusch says. "There's no more time."

"A cry for help from the mayor of Arnhem in his fight against the disturbances caused by these young refugees: 'Give them clarity faster.'"
Kaiser says she doesn't understand what Markusch means by "this." "When you enter the Netherlands, you are registered and taken to a reception center. If the place becomes chaotic, you are moved to another. I don't agree with the picture the mayor is painting." The minister's remarks, from the BBB party, are noteworthy, given that asylum seekers in the Netherlands are often indeed moved from one (emergency) reception center to another. This has been the case for years due to a shortage of refugee reception facilities. Mayor Marcouch had previously met with her and discussed the issues, as he did with her predecessor in the immigration ministry, Mariolaine Veer, a member of the populist party led by the extremist Geert Wilders, one of the parties opposed to the presence of immigrants, especially those of the Islamic faith. Minister Mona Kaiser expressed her concern, saying that Ahmed Marcouch should have contacted her directly instead of the newspaper. She urged refugees who are bored or feeling unwell not to vandalize property or engage in criminal behavior. She added that she had already contacted the mayor of Arnhem and discussed her ministry's actions with him by phone. Nationally.

Kaiser also wants to put the ball back in Markouch's court, saying, "Mayors are responsible for public order and safety, so this is where the discussion should take place and where action should be taken according to the circumstances."

Kaiser oversees the reception of asylum seekers and refers to her colleague, Minister David van Wel, who oversees asylum procedures.

It is clear from the ongoing tug-of-war between the mayor and Minister Monica, the latter is currently trapped by positions linked to her party, which is allied with other right-wing parties known for their hardline stance on immigration. She is unable to move forward with a rational policy that would allow for the integration of young refugees into Dutch society and does not want to respond to the demands of Mayor Ahmed Markouch, who wants faster procedures, clarity for refugees, and guarantees and facilitation of their integration in the Netherlands.

Asylum applications submitted by Syrians remained stagnant between December 2024 and June 2025; due to the fall of the Assad regime, no decisions were made. A spokesperson for Minister van Wel stated that the procedures had resumed, but processing nearly Of the 17,000 existing and new applications, processing takes time.

Over a year ago, the Mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Markouch, received a well-deserved award, presented annually to a distinguished figure in the Netherlands who, through dedication and efforts, has fostered harmony among the diverse segments of Dutch society.

The award's sponsors deemed Ahmed Markouch worthy of the prize due to his continuous efforts in building a society where all citizens are equal, without discrimination or artificial divisions. The award bears the name of the former Mayor of Amsterdam, whom political and intellectual circles consider a pillar of communication between and with the various citizens of Amsterdam. The decision to award this prize to the Mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Markouch, who has headed the city council since 2017, was unanimous.  The award was given to him as a reward for his ability to create a culture of dialogue and recognition of others in society through his professional career and life experiences as a former policeman, teacher, and seasoned politician who was able to create his own path to encourage and create a culture of dialogue in the Netherlands on the one hand and in Arnhem on the other. Despite the complexity of the mayor’s duties, especially in the current circumstances and the threats to which some of his colleagues are exposed, Ahmed Marcouch was able to achieve security and safety in Dutch society due to the boldness that he possesses as a Dutch citizen of Amazigh origin from Morocco.