Syrian-Dutch citizens launch "We Rise" to make their voice heard in migration debate

A group of Syrian-Dutch citizens has come together because they want to have a voice in the migration debate. “We are the people over whom the government fell, but no one talks to us,” say the founders of the new organization, We Rise. “We are claiming our voice.”

Comprising students, entrepreneurs, teachers, and activists, the group held an election meeting in The Hague on Thursday evening. Mahmoud Al-Naser, a co-founder of We Rise, stated, “Politics should stop speaking about us and start engaging with us.” He added that the organization has formally communicated this to all political parties in a letter.

We Rise aims for the societal debate on asylum and migration to include “a fair dialogue where newcomers can speak for themselves,” and mutual respect. “We are part of society too,” Al-Naser emphasized.

In addition to engaging with politics, the organization also works to inform Syrian-Dutch citizens about democracy and elections in the Netherlands. Around 30 people attended the meeting, where Al-Naser, who has lived in the Netherlands for more than seven years, said, “We want to inform people about the importance of participating and using their vote.”

The evening also featured a debate with politicians, candidates, and MPs from D66, GroenLinks-PvdA, SP, DENK, Partij voor de Dieren, and VOLT. Al-Naser noted that while all parties had been invited, not everyone attended. “We’re glad you made it,” he told the six party representatives present.