Ineke van der Valk: New Publication Dutch Islamophobia
By Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik e.V.
In this post we will introduce you to the new publications by Ineke van der Valk about Islamophobia and Discrimination in the Netherlands. Her most recent book entitled “Dutch Islamophobia” is the continuation of her first publication about Islamophobia ProMosaik e.V. had already presented and translated into German and Italian. ProMosaik e.V. convinced of the importance of the exchange among Islamophobia researchers to struggle against prejudice and discrimination of Muslims across the whole of Europe. Therefore, we have interviewed the author about this book as well. For the interview with the author about “Monitor Moslim Discriminatie”, see
Milena Rampoldi (MR): Why did you decide to write a second book about islamophobia in the Netherlands?
Ineke van der Valk (IvdV): My monitor islamophobia project runs until 2018. It is important to monitor developments and thus also to report about them. It is a new field of study and there is a lot to do, I therefor make regular reports, as books or as web publications in pdf.
MR: What did change in the period between the first and the second book?
IvdV: Very important is the fact that political parties do not cooperate any more with the PVV. Also islamophobia is now on the agenda of politics and media, much more than before as a result of my previous work and efforts of Muslim organizations. At the same time it is increasing as a reaction to islamist terrorist attacks and events like what happened in Koln on New Years’ Eve. People tend to generalize too easily.
MR: Which are the main objectives of the book?
IvdV: Contribute to knowledge and insight into a modern form of discrimination.
MR: What can we do to change islamophobic minds in the Netherlands?
IvdV: Develop counter speech to counter racist propaganda and hate speech, online and off line. Contribute to awareness raising in education, politics, the media and other important sectors of society. Organize dialogue and encounter between people of different religion and non-religious people too.
For more information on what to do see the recommendations at the end of the book, or alternatively in Dutch at the end of the last report can be download on this website or on the website of IMES, University of Amsterdam
MR: How important is the translation of books about islamophobia to network people in whole Europe and to promote understanding about islamophobia?
IvdV: Very important, it will be possible to make comparisons between different countries and to contribute also to awareness raising in countries were the issue is present but under-reported.
MR: Which proposals would you make to social workers and Muslim and Non-Muslim activists struggling against islamophobia for an open and tolerant society in Holland and abroad?
IvdV: Cooperate, get to know each other and strife together for a better world, regardless of differences of religion, color, ethnic background, gender and sexual orientation.
