Arnhem, Netherlands: Europe and the Arabs
In an interview with RTL4 television, the mayor of the Dutch city of Arnhem, Ahmed Marcoush, of Moroccan origin, considered the proposal to criminalize irregular residence in the Netherlands to be nothing more than a desperate attempt to project a false sense of resolve. In reality, it undermines the foundations of the rule of law and drags society down dangerous paths that serve neither justice nor security in society.
As the mayor of Arnhem and a former police officer, he expressed his clear and purposeful position: 'Criminal law cannot be a means of resolving the issue of migration. It is a humanitarian and political issue that requires a comprehensive vision, not a punitive approach that reduces human suffering to a criminal case. Resorting to punishment does not stop migration; it only increases the vulnerability of the weak and turns victims into criminals. When did vulnerability become a crime? When did the search for safety or dignity become a reason for prosecution? Such policies open the door to discrimination, sow fear in the hearts of the innocent, and place police officers in daily confrontation with the oppressed, instead of being protectors of justice and social security. Current laws, most notably the Foreigners Act, are stringent enough. What we truly lack is not more sanctions, but rather political courage and a genuine will to conclude binding agreements with countries of origin through diplomacy and bilateral cooperation to ensure voluntary and safe return, provided there is a willingness to receive migrants and treat them humanely. Therefore, he believes that the recent warnings of police leaders and security officials must be taken seriously. Security personnel are not tools or political pawns to achieve short-sighted goals, but rather the guardians of the constitution and the guardians of democracy. Using them as fuel for futile symbolic policies threatens not only human rights but also the stability of the entire legal system. Mayor Ahmed Markouche's message is clear: invest in justice, diplomacy, and realistic solutions. Only this can achieve security and stability. Laws enacted as "political appeasers" will only lead to further social divisions and conflict, far from the values ​​we should cherish as Europeans and as human beings. We must collectively reject the punishment of weakness and defend human dignity, the rule of law, and a future based on true justice, far removed from all illusions.
It is worth noting that last December, the Mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Markouch, was awarded a well-deserved award, which is presented annually to a distinguished figure in the Netherlands who, through dedication and efforts, has succeeded in achieving brotherhood among the various components of Dutch society.
The sponsors of the award considered Ahmed Markouche worthy of the award due to his continuous efforts to build and achieve a society in which all citizens, men and women, are equal, without discrimination or imaginary dividing lines.
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. It was unanimously decided to award this award to the Mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Markouche, who has been President of the City Council since 2017. He was granted leave of absence as a reward for his ability to create a culture of dialogue and recognition of the other in society through his professional career and life experiences as a former police officer, 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 Marcoush was able to achieve security and safety in Dutch society due to the courage that distinguishes him as a Dutch citizen of Berber origins from Morocco.