1/3 Iranian refugees protest for Mahsa Amini during the open day of the asylum seekers’ center in Budel (Photo: Alice van der Plas).
Ali says he is a political refugee from Turkey. “An academic who has been banned.” With his family on the run from President Erdogan. He did not see the banner at the entrance of the asylum seekers’ center in Budel on Saturday, but he understands the feelings of the demonstrators. “That’s why an open day like today is also good. That people can come here and get to know us.”
A group of 30 to 50 demonstrators stood in front of the gate of the asylum seekers’ center in Budel on Saturday morning. Their goal is a quick closure of the asylum seekers’ center. They are tired of the nuisance of asylum seekers in the village. Saturday morning there were again thefts in the supermarket, they say. Ali understands the demonstration. “I know that there are thefts and burglaries. We also suffer from this here at the asylum seekers’ center itself. But it is only a small group. You should not generalize the problems.”
Ali prefers not to have his full name on the website. “It won’t affect me, but my family still lives in Turkey.” The fear of the long arm runs well with Ali and his wife, as they hand out snacks to the visitors of the open day. “All residents are here for a good reason, they are fleeing war or dictatorship.”
“Most people here at the asylum seekers’ center are good families.”
According to Ali, the residents of the asylum seekers’ center and the local residents simply do not know each other well enough. “I understand the concerns, but most people here at the asylum seekers’ center are good families, they are often from good descent. If we got to know each other better, we would understand each other better.”
Outside the building where Ali and his wife talk to visitors on the open day, the Syrians dance around and the refugees from Iran take action. “People in Iran are revolting,” said one refugee, holding up a paper for 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. The young woman died after being arrested by the religious police for violating a dress code. The demonstration at the gate passes him by, but his friend knows about it. “I understand the people who live nearby, but we are also just people.”
“We have to move towards a form of reception that suits the municipality better.”
Nearby is the stall of the Residents’ Collective Cranendonck. Bart Kraaijenvanger hopes to mobilize his fellow Cranendonckers to take action for good refugee reception in the municipality. “We want a solution for the nuisance and unrest in the village. So that there is support again to receive people who really need it.”
The majority of the city council in Cranendonck wants the asylum seekers’ center to be closed in 2024, but Kraaijenveld thinks that will not happen. “There is an asylum seekers crisis and this is a good location to receive people. But we have to move towards a form that better suits our municipality. You have to spread the nuisance causes more across the Netherlands. Now, as a municipality, we have to bear too much of Cranendonck. “
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