Mayor Femke Halsema of Amsterdam renounces the statement condemning violence against LGBTI+ people. That’s what she said on Friday evening the local television channel AT5. Several mosques had previously strongly criticized the state of affairs surrounding the consultation on the declaration of support and did not want to sign it. Halsema says she will cancel the statement, because she does not feel like pushing people “in the face in a resentful or other way”.
Also read: Mayor Halsema cancels mosque meeting about LGBTIQ+ violence after storm of criticism
Mosque authorities were outraged when it emerged that only Muslim and not Jewish or Christian organizations had been invited to a meeting on the statement earlier this month. According to De Blauwe Mosque, this was “absurd, discriminatory and accusatory”, because it would hold Muslims responsible for violence against the LGBTI+ community.
Halsema just wanted mosques to be able to show by signing the statement that they are “a positive force in Amsterdam society”. According to the mayor, it has always been the intention to also work with other religious organizations.
This is the full text of the canceled statement of support:
“The LGBTQ+ community still faces discrimination, rejection and even violence. There is an impression that the harsh street culture is an important cause of this, but also that some perpetrators rely on their faith. This can and should never be a reason to commit criminal offences. That is why we – as representatives of religious organizations – want to make it clear to everyone that we completely reject discrimination and violence against the LGBTIQ+ community.”