Amy Mek
Maastricht, Netherlands — Last Thursday, evangelist John Paul Clarinda was subjected to a stop-and-frisk by local police after he led a small group of students in singing Christian worship songs at a public piano in the Maastricht train station. The incident unfolded in front of his wife and young daughter, creating what witnesses described as a “tense and intimidating atmosphere.” This has led Christian leaders to question the fair treatment of religious groups in public spaces, claiming that similar gatherings by other groups might not receive the same response.
The event was shared on social media by Wim Hoddenbagh, founder of Stichting Presence, a Christian organization known for its outreach efforts across the Netherlands. According to Hoddenbagh, Clarinda and a group of students had been singing hymns and worship songs earlier that day in the city center and decided to wrap up their gathering with a few final songs at the station’s public piano. However, shortly after the group finished, station security responded to a complaint, bringing three police cars, six officers, and a guard dog to the scene.
“Today, our friend and evangelist John Paul Clarinda was surrounded by police and frisked in front of his family for simply singing songs of worship,” wrote Hoddenbagh. “John Paul is a kind-hearted man with an Antillean background who has devoted himself to sharing the gospel in the community.” Clarinda, separated from the group, was put up against a wall and searched, but no grounds for arrest were found. Despite this, he was asked for identification, and when it turned out he did not have an ID with him, he was issued a fine.
This response, Hoddenbagh contended, was “unnecessary and disproportionate” to the peaceful nature of the gathering. “Formally, the police can issue a fine for not carrying ID, but in similar situations, a warning is often enough,” he explained.
Hoddenbagh emphasized that public worship for Christians in the Netherlands is met with increasing challenges. “People often think it’s easy to worship God in public. No, it’s not,” he wrote. “Every time we go out, we know there might be opposition.”
Stichting Presence regularly holds evangelistic gatherings in various cities, which sometimes provoke mixed reactions. While public worship is legal, Hoddenbagh noted that Christians face obstacles and occasional hostility when they exercise this freedom. In his statement, he urged a more understanding and proportional response from authorities, pointing out that the group posed no threat to public order and acted respectfully.
The police’s response has led to broader questions about the state’s treatment of Christian expression in public spaces. While the Netherlands upholds religious freedom, Hoddenbagh suggested that the frequency of these incidents reveals an underlying bias. Christians, he said, are “often treated as disturbances” rather than as people peacefully exercising their faith.
“Instead of fostering a welcoming and respectful environment, heavy-handed enforcement creates an atmosphere of fear and suspicion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Observed Double Standards in the Treatment of Islamic Groups
The disparity between the treatment of peaceful Christian gatherings and other religious demonstrations has not gone unnoticed. Across the Netherlands, Muslims, including left-wing groups supporting Hamas, have been able to gather publicly, chant genocidal Islamic slogans, and voice controversial Islamic sentiments without facing similar police intervention. Videos widely shared online show violent pro-Hamas demonstrations in Amsterdam. Islamic pro-Hamas can attack police with impunity:
Amsterdam, Netherlands…
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) May 27, 2024
Anyone who thinks these "protests" are just about Israel and Jews better wake up soon!
What do you think is going to happen when their numbers increase?
Whether you are a pacifist or warmonger, gay or heterosexual, atheist or Christian, wealthy or… pic.twitter.com/uOpx3sH9IR
They can seize control of the streets without any police intervention:
Allahu Akbar Netherlands!
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) May 13, 2024
Today in Amsterdam, Jihadis led a car procession through the city waving their Palestinian/Hamas Flags.
The music playing at the beginning of the video is used by Hamas to incite violence.
A quick reminder to the West…
It is time to make a… pic.twitter.com/ItRJpqAQ0O
Hamas supporters are free in the Netherlands to celebrate the October 7 Islamic terror attacks on innocent Israelis and Jews, while Christians cannot peacefully pray outside.
Islamized Netherlands…
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) April 14, 2024
In Dam Square, "enrichers" celebrate Iran's attack on Israel…pic.twitter.com/RMR5Z8yrTC
In the Netherlands, you can even be arrested for daring to challenge Islam and its religious texts, which critics argue function as little more than military manuals for conquest.
Islamized Netherlands
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) August 7, 2024
Pegida Leader Edwin Wagensveld Sentenced for Comparing Muslims to Nazis
"When people really adhere to the Koran, they follow an ideology similar to Hitler."
“I want to raise awareness about the dangers of Islamization. It threatens our freedom of… pic.twitter.com/CUjLJTrqDz
Whether it’s marching through the streets waving Palestinian and Hamas flags or celebrating the October 7 attacks on Israel, these actions are met with minimal to no interference from authorities. In stark contrast, peaceful Christian worship faces intense policing, while pro-Hamas gatherings proceed with leniency despite chants of violence and open displays of support for terror attacks. This glaring double standard raises serious concerns: Christians are penalized for peaceful worship, while Islamic supremacist demonstrations dominate Dutch streets unchallenged. Such actions suggest an alarming shift in the Netherlands, where tolerance for Islamic radicals appears to come at the direct expense of Christians’ rights to express their faith openly.
This trend points toward an unsettling Islamization of Dutch society, where the state is increasingly complicit in suppressing Christian expression while allowing Islam to flourish. The stark contrast in enforcement effectively aligns with Sharia, where Christian voices are silenced, and Islam is the only religion allowed.
The state’s apparent bias against Christian gatherings and its tolerance of pro-Hamas extremism is a betrayal of equality and religious freedom. This growing hostility sends a chilling message to Christians across the Netherlands: their rights are expendable, their faith is unwelcome, and they may soon face a society whose policies no longer protect their freedom to worship openly.
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Vlad Tepes
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