Immigrants tested with gay kiss

By Marc Shoffman • March 13, 2006 - 0:00

The test marks a crackdown on immigration for the country usually known for its liberal views

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Muslim groups are criticising the Netherlands over the use of films featuring two men kissing to test asylum seeker's liberal attitudes as a basis for entry into the country.

Applicants' reactions will be tested to see if they can accept the language and culture of Holland.

Leaders from the Muslim community in Holland say the film is offensive, "It really is a provocation aimed to limit immigration. It has nothing to do with the rights of homosexuals."

"Even Dutch people don't want to see that," Abdou Menebhi told the Times.

He said: "They are trying to find every pretext to show that people should not come to the Netherlands because they are fundamentalist or not emancipated. They confront people with these things and then judge them afterwards."

Famile Arslan, 34, an immigration lawyer of Turkish origin, said: "I have lived here for 30 years and have never been witness to two men kissing in the park. So why are they confronting people with that?"

The test marks a crackdown on immigration for the country usually known for its liberal views.

The Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, believes the tests will provide an objective assessment of the suitability of applicants by examining how prepared they are to make the transition to Dutch life.

However critics feel that even Dutch people wouldn't know the answers to some of the questions on the test such as "which former Dutch colony a particular spice came from?"

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, from the parliament's immigration committee, said the film had been created to help prepare people for "open minded" attitudes on issues such as homosexuality, "We have lots of homo discrimination, especially by Muslim youngsters who harass gay men and women on the streets. It is an issue here."

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