Moroccan-Born Mayor Dispenses Tough Love to Immigrants

Ahmed Marcouch immigrated to the Netherlands when he was 10 years old. With help from teachers, he caught up in school and assimilated into Dutch culture. As mayor of a Slotervaart – a rough neighborhood in Amsterdam with high crime, unemployment and dropout rates – he takes a hard-line stance and urges fellow immigrants to integrate in a country known for its tolerance. The former police officer has organized a team that patrols the streets on bicycles to prevent thefts and fights and also advise young adults on attending school or finding work. He does reject the notion of “gedogen,” the Dutch habit of overlooking illegal behavior, from drug use to men beating their wives. Ignoring taunts that he is a traitor, Marcouch urges immigrants to forego their self-imposed isolation and accept Dutch culture, pointing out that a person can be both Muslim and Dutch. – YaleGlobal