In a recent statement, the Interchurch Foundation warned that discrimination against Syrian Christians in Dutch asylum seeker centres had increased sharply over the past six months. For example, a Christian Syrian mother was threatened with death and told that her family would be targeted. Understandably, such threats have caused serious fear among Christian asylum seekers, some of whom are now hiding their religion to avoid being targeted.
Jan Pieter Mostert, director of the interdenominational Gave Foundation, says that recent political developments in Syria can partly explain the rise in tensions. The foundation has received at least ten official reports in the past six months.
However, Mostert stressed that many Christian asylum seekers do not speak up out of fear. He cited the example of a Christian Syrian mother of four who was threatened with the words, 'We know where your family lives,' and was shown the gesture of a throat being slit.
The Dutch Political Reformed Party has sent a written inquiry to the Minister of Asylum and Migration.