Version imprimableIt is one year ago that the City of Rotterdam decided to terminate my contract and collaboration under the pretext that I worked for the Iranian T.V. channel Press T.V.
This decision was taken within a span of two working days while I was on vacation, without even contacting me. This decision and the way it was handled created an outcry of criticism in Netherlands itself.
I had taken legal action against the municipality requesting them to respect the terms of my contract as well as to apologize for the crude way I had been treated.
And now, the Rotterdam Tribunal has just announced its shocking judgment by rejecting my lawsuit. This, without even acknowledging the arguments that I had put forward : no comment on the arbitrary manner in which I was let go during a vacation period ; no comment on the bridge building work which was being undertaken on my show Press T.V. ; no comment on my criticism of the Iranian regime ; no comment on the political climate in Netherlands and the political interference that the extreme right populist movement and party exercised on the municipality, pushing the latter to take an urgent decision without a thought for due process.
On the contrary, it appears that I should have been aware of this tense climate and reacted by succumbing to the decision, even before trying to dialogue ...while I was on holidays, 9,000 kms from Rotterdam. It makes no sense.
A surprising decision, in any case, and unacceptable. I will be filing an appeal of this judgment that has succumbed to a very unhealthy political climate, justifying a political decision taken in a state of urgency without the minimum of respect owed to individuals. Especially when it concerns a Muslim, apparently.
I am filing an appeal because I will not accept this decision so easily . It avoids the substance of the matter and actually legitimizes a political decision taken and influenced by a social climate that has overtaken this country through a disturbing populist movement.
It will cost what it will cost but there is no question of accepting this type of treatment whether it be in a country of Geert Wilders, the populist Islamophobe (who by the way has tripled the number of parliamentarians for his movement in the last election), of Leefbar from the extreme right, or any others.
I am saddened, but it does not take away my will to defend the cause of respect and justice. We will go onto an appeal, in shâ Allah, because there are certain principles that one just has to stand up for.
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