The Illiberal Consequences of Liberal Immigration Policies

The Netherlands is considered to be one of the most tolerant, open nations. The Netherlands were almost always ahead of the curve on issues of religious and cultural tolerance. In 1593 Crypto-Jews from Spain and Portugal were allowed to settle in Amsterdam. Not surprisingly, the Netherlands adopted a liberal immigration policy, which in the last decade resulted in a large increase in their Muslim Population. While a good number of Muslim Immigrants, particularly educated individuals from Iran, have assimilated into economic and social life, a good numbers, particular those from the Maghreb, have not. This is seen in the formation of the Dutch Muslim Party, which seeks to reverse the Netherlands' liberal policies towards gay marriage, cannabis and free speech. And to make matters worse, it has also contributed to a growth in anti-Semitic harassment and gay bashing, whose perpetrators are overwhelmingly Muslim Immigrants. So paradoxically, their liberal immigration policies are having a most illiberal effect.  Take heed, it is the nature of most human beings to recreate the social environments of their nations of origin.