- Dutch Defence League
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DDL logo
The Dutch Defence League (DDL) was a Dutch single issue group which disbanded in March 2011 Their stated aim was to oppose what it considered to be the spread of Islamism, Sharia law, and Fundamentalist Islam in The Netherlands. The organization was established late 2010 by a group of Dutch visitors of the English Defence League forums. The organization had about 250 estimated members (forum member count) although no official numbers on actual 'active' members are known. The organisation's spokesman was Bert Jansen.
Contents
Affiliation
The DDL was affiliated with EFI, the European-Freedom-Initiative.org, and with Defence Leagues in other countries [1]. Although many followers support The Freedom Party from Geert Wilders, they are not affiliated.
Controversy
Radical left-wing anti-fascists consider DDL to be an extreme-right neo-Nazi movement[2]. The DDL distantiates itself from neo-Nazi ideas by explicitly stating the following phrase in their charter; The DDL rejects Nazi-ideologies the same way as it rejects radical Islamism and further it sincerely respects every human being, no matter the race, religion of lifestyle.[3]
In prelude to the demonstration in Amsterdam at October 30, 2010 the media predicted a clash between Ajax hooligans and EDL members who would visit Amsterdam from England.[4] The concern for a clash reached the point to which the mayor decided to move the demonstration to another location, a decision the DDL wanted to fight in court [5][6][7] but later reconsidered and refrained from doing so [8].
Demonstrations
On October 30, 2010 members of the Dutch Defence League rallied in Amsterdam, together with some English Defence League members, and protested for freedom of speech and in support of Geert Wilders. Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician also against radical Islam, indicated he was not too happy with the demonstration[9]. After the demonstration the city concluded that there were no major problems [10]
On February, members of the DDL attended an English Defence League march in Luton, EnglandDissolution
On June 13, 2011, the group announced the immediate termination of its activities.[11][12]
See also
- Stop the Islamification of Europe
References
- ^ The DDL and the EFI Are on the Map
- ^ DDL ontmaskerd als een onvervalste neo-nazi beweging (Dutch)
- ^ Charter of the Dutch Defense League
- ^ Trouw "Demonstratie wordt treffen hooligans" (Dutch)
- ^ RTV N-H ’DDL spant kort geding aan tegen Amsterdam’ (Dutch)
- ^ Dagelijkse Standaard: Van der Laan maakte slapende honden wakker.
- ^ WebRegio 'Demonstranten Wilders van elkaar scheiden'
- ^ AT5: Dutch Defence League ziet af van kort geding
- ^ Wilders is not happy with demonstration EDL
- ^ NOS Nieuws: Betogingen Amsterdam rustig verlopen
- ^ DDL opgeheven
- ^ [1]
External links
Categories:- Anti-Muslim organizations from the Netherlands
- Opposition to Islam in Europe
- Organizations established in 2010
- 2010 establishments in the Netherlands
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