“The film is meant for people not yet in Holland to take note that this is normal here and not be shocked and awed by it once they arrive.”

— Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Somali-born member of the Dutch Parliament, speaking about  To the Netherlands, an educational film released by the Dutch government and targeted at potential immigrants who must take the new entrance exam in order to enter the country.  The film contains images of gay men kissing and of a sunbathing topless woman; there is an edited version for people in countries, such as Iran, where possession of such images is illegal.  The 15-minute exam that went into effect March 15 is administrated at 138 embassies worldwide and tests applicants for rudimentary Dutch language skills and information about Dutch law and culture.  Potential questions include whether hitting women and female circumcision are legal and where Crown Princess Maxima is originally from (Argentina).

Opponents decry the measure as a naked attempt to discourage immigrants from Muslim countries. Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk — known as “Iron Rita” — has recently spearheaded the campaign for more stringent immigration requirements. Immigrant advocate Abdou Menebhi, who is Moroccan-born, stated: “They are trying to find every pretext to show that people should not come to the Netherlands because they are fundamentalist or not emancipated. They confront people with these things and then judge them afterwards.”

The more restrictive immigration policies were implemented partially due to the controversy sparked by the murder of Theo van Gogh (great-great-grandson of the painter) as a result of his controversial 10-minute short film Submission about the abuse inflicted on Muslim women. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who wrote the film, also received death threats. Van Gogh planned on making a three-part series about the subject. The second film was to be a treatment of the same issue from the perspective of Muslim men.  

Mimi Hanaoka