Dutch MP Kauthar Bouchallikt says Netherlands should apologise for its participation in slavery

Kauthar Bouchallikt, a Dutch MP of Moroccan descent and the first MP to wear a headscarf in the Dutch parliament, called for the Netherlands to apologise for its participation in slavery. She also alluded to wanting the Dutch government to offer reparations to go along with a potential apology.

The Netherlands abolished slavery in 1914, but its government has never formally apologised for its participation in it and has not compensated its victims.

Bouchallikt’s call was backed by her party and various other MPs from opposition and coalition parties. The call followed a visit by the MPs in August to former Dutch colony Suriname, in South America, where they spoke to locals who explained that they don’t expect apologies from Dutch individuals but do expect it from the government.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said that 2023, which will mark 150 years since slavery was abolished in its colonies in the Carribean, will be dedicated to acknowledging the Netherlands’ history of slavery, but the government has not yet confirmed whether it will be formally apologising or offering reparations.

Some attacked Bouchallikt on Twitter for her statement with Islamophobic remarks and pointing at Morocco’s involvement in slavery.

[blackmamba]

Dutch slavery which lasted for little more then 200 yrs compared to 14 centuries of islamic arab slave trade is nothing, Why doesnt she aplogize for that ?Arabs were castrating milions of slaves, destroyed milions of future generations, her own country Morrroco was one of the last and biggest slave markets in the world and europians forced them to put a stop to it...Today only countries which have slaves and slave markets undergroung are muslim countries ....And its actually the Muslim arab who started the African slave trade ie started exporting african slaves to other parts of the world in the 8th century...

[RonnieMyers]

Will Muslim nations also apologize for slavery past AND present?

[Piku.]

Apologizing for crimes committed by ancestors is bullshit

[sandeepkumarreddypadala]

Muslims should apologize for yezedi women slavery also

[emanuelbatista]

The Netherlands must apologize to its citizens for you living in the there.

[jasonwatt]

Everyone needs to apologise for their ancestors' behaviour?
Should we jail every German in the world?

[bettyprice]

This female is a walking apology, supporting a religion that mistreats women and children to the point of abuse. She needs to apologise to us.

[hierendaarennu]

She’s completely correct I should release my slaves and give money to the poor people I have used over the years oh wait a minute I don’t have slaves ancestors do not have slaves so why should I apologize go to hell

[PistonHonda]

Not only should Muslims apologize for slavery, but this Muslim woman needs to apologize for taking a seat in government for a country that is not hers.

[jason]

Arabs should also apologize for their participation in the slave trade as well, the Arab slave trade was far worse that the Atlantic slave trade.

[jeroenvandenheuvel]

actions rather than words. then we have to boycott countries where they still keep slaves. like in Qatar?

[blackmamba]

Morocco’s Arabs and Berbers were heavily involved in the trans-Sahara slave trade for 13 centuries. Deep into the 20th century, owning black slaves in Morocco was a sign of prestige. Black women were taken as concubines and domestics and Black men worked in the fields, herded animals, or served as domestics.
Late nineteenth century Marrakesh market statistics suggest that Morocco as a whole was then not only the largest outlet in North Africa for Black slaves traded across the Sahara, but was buying far more than ever before. Following partly‐effective European abolitionist measures and other pressures, patterns of the Saharan slave trade underwent many changes from about 1840 onwards, with more slaves diverted from central desert markets to Morocco.

[puttytatt]

Hmm...shouldn't the Muslims be reminded of their history of slavery and make their apologies and reparations as well? No apologies needed for actions of those from long ago. This is complete nonsense! Live your lives and stop hanging on to the past!!

[ilikenika]

Europe wake up and man up, those are the poeple that are living in your house telling you how to live thats sad to see, protect your house ! No one will do it for you..

[sillysod]

Morocco should also applogise to the European nations for the Barbary Coast slave trade. Italy should apologize for Roman enslavement. Turkey should apologize to the Balkan states for Ottoman devshirme practices and other nations from whom the Ottomans took slaves. The Uzbeks should apologize to India for the Mughals.
Let's do this.

[ragingbeast]

Wherever you guys are, your prime goal is to create a stir, an unrest, and create a divide. Best of luck for your propaganda.

[marksmall]

When are the Cornish people going to receive an apology from the Barbary corsairs?

[PraveenKumar-ktqr]

Islam talking abr war crimes, slavery ...lol 😅

[anitahiawatha]

The dutch royal family should also apoligise.
Islamic nations should also apologise for their role in slavery.

[katokaoula]

This people don't know real history 🙄