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A series of images showing Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb's criticism of people who hate Dutch society but still live in it. (image: Riet Wartenbergh/Twitter; screenshots: Nieuwsuur)
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A series of images showing Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb's criticism of people who hate Dutch society but still live in it. (image: Riet Wartenbergh/Twitter; screenshots: Nieuwsuur)
Thursday, 8 January 2015 - 10:38
Muslims who don't like free speech can "fuck off": Rotterdam Mayor
Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb appeared on television programme Nieuwsuur Wednesday night, and lashed out at Muslims living in this society despite their hatred of it. “It is incomprehensible that you can turn against freedom,” he said. “But if you do not like freedom, in Heaven’s name pack your bag and leave.”
“There may be a place in the world where you can be yourself,” he continued. “Be honest with yourself and do not go and kill innocent journalists,” Aboutaleb, a Muslim himself, said.
“And if you do not like it here because humorists you do not like make a newspaper, may I then say you can fuck off.”
“This is stupid, this so incomprehensible,” he also said. “Vanish from the Netherlands if you cannot find your place here.”
Mayor Aboutaleb also expressed remorse at how Muslims will now be looked at in the Netherlands. “All those well-meaning Muslims here will now be stared at.”
London Mayor Boris Johnson wrote an opinion piece in praise of Mayor Aboutaleb days after this article was published. -Ed.