The Moroccan community in the Netherlands: Religion, integration and loyaltyby Joyce van de Bildt

Outline:• History of Moroccan migration to the Netherlands• Dutch immigration policy and integration strategies• Relations with the home government • Dual nationality and loyalty• Islam in the Netherlands

Amount of Moroccans in the Netherlands on January 1, 2011:

355,883 (second largest immigrant group)

Brief history• Labour migration to Europe • After WWII: a need for

unschooled employees to work in textile and mining industries

• Morocco stimulated emigration for economic and political reasons

• Recruitment was directed at the inhabitants of the less-developed Rif mountains and Souss region

• Majority of emigrants was of Berber background

Source: Herkomst en vestiging van de eerste generatie Marokkanen in NederlandTineke Fokkema, Carel Harmsen en Han Nicolaas, Bevolkingstrends, 3e kwartaal 2009, CBS

Estimated amount of Dutch Moroccans that is of Berber origin: 80%• “Map of Morocco with the most important provinces of migrant origin”

Dutch immigration policy• Guest workers were to stay temporarily• 1960s: Labour migration and chain migration• 1973: Economic crisis and immigration stop• 1970s: Migrants start to obtain permanent residence • 1979: Ethnic Minorities Policy -- outline for integration• 1980s: Family reunification• 1990s and onwards: marriage migration and steady birthrate

among Moroccans

Year Number of Moroccans in the Netherlands

1982 93,000

1989 139,000

2011 355,883

Uit: Herkomst en vestiging van de eerste generatie Marokkanen in NederlandTineke Fokkema, Carel Harmsen en Han Nicolaas, Bevolkingstrends, 3e kwartaal 2009, CBS

• “Share of women in Moroccan migration to the Netherlands”:

Family reunification in the 70s and 80s

The inalienability of Moroccan citizenship

Moroccan government rhetoric

• Mr. Mohammed Ameur, Minister in charge of the Moroccan Community Abroad:

Moroccans abroad are to considered a 17th province of Morocco, and ties with them should be strengthened. Moroccan culture should be preserved and promoted among them, as well as the Arabic language

• Former Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Fassi Fihri:

“The law does not allow nationality to be renounced except following a ruling by a committee presided over by the prime minister,” and

“according to specific criteria based on respect for ancestral religious legitimacy and political and judicial legality”

• Non-Dutch nationality of Dutch nationals with dual nationality, 1 January 2007 (CBS Statistics)

Dual passport = dual loyalty?

“It is possible to be loyal to several people or countries. Dual nationality should not be a problem these days. A passport, for that matter, is just a document”

Two sides of the Dutch-Moroccan community• Relatively high criminality rates• Socio-economic achievements lag behind• Isolation from Dutch society:• Neighbourhoods• Schools• Social networks

• The Islam debate

Moroccans and religion• Almost 100% identify with Islam• Relatively traditional• Provides a positive identification• Media from the Muslim world• Moroccan government efforts

• Dutch system of verzuiling (pillarization) in the 20th century• 1. Catholic• 2. Protestant• 3. Socialist• 4. Liberal

• Depillarisation and secularization trends

Islam in the Netherlands

Eid al-Adha in Rotterdam (1979)Opening first Islamic funeral in

Amsterdam (1978)

Islam in the Netherlands• The Essalam Mosque in Rotterdam, 2011

1. Freedom of speech

10. Dutch norms and values

18. Secularization of Dutch society

The Moroccan community in the Netherlands: Religion, integration and loyaltyby Joyce van de Bildt