The Public Prosecution Service (OM) will not prosecute Mayor Jack Mikkers of Den Bosch for his statement about Moroccans during a residents’ meeting about asylum seeker centers in his municipality. All 27 charges against Mikkers have been dismissed. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the statement was not an insult to the race of the group, but to the behavior of Moroccan asylum seekers. As a result, there is no group insult.
“This does not fall under discrimination under the Criminal Code,” the Public Prosecution Service says.
The VVD mayor made his statements during a residents’ meeting about the possible arrival of two reception centers for asylum seekers in Den Bosch. A woman made a comment there about asylum seekers from Syria. “Everything that happens: Syria is at the top,” she said. The mayor responded with: “That is not true, that is Morocco.”
Indignant reactions
The altercation was filmed and shared on social media, resulting in a stream of criticism. The leadership of the Moroccan Arrahma mosque reacted angrily to the statements and there were also indignant reactions on social media. Protest group Extinction Rebellion hung job posters for a new mayor around city hall. For safety reasons, Mikkers was absent during the celebration of the Eleventh of the Eleventh in Den Bosch.
Mikkers said in a statement that ‘severe apologies’ are appropriate. “I should not have made these statements. I have spoken to a lot of people. I want to apologize to everyone who is hurt by this. I have disappointed all the people who want to connect with each other. Strong apologies are in order.” Mikkers said he understands that people are disappointed in him.
‘Repair relationship’
Mayor Jack Mikkers of Den Bosch also had to appear during a city council meeting. The council members believed that the disturbed relationship between Mikkers and the three Moroccan authorities must be restored in the interests of Den Bosch society. The mayor of Den Bosch must come up with a plan for this at the beginning of 2024.
The Public Prosecution Service will inform the 27 people who filed a report about its decision.