An exhibition at the Anne Frank House exposing neo-Nazism in Holland and other Western European countries triggered angry protests this week from groups that said they were unfairly accused.
Police in Dordrecht arrested 18 people trying to hold a news conference Wednesday after it was prohibited by the mayor in order to avoid possible disturbances.
The exhibition, titled “Our own people first,” deals with neo-Nazism in France, West Germany, Belgium and Holland. It will be on display until Nov. 11.
The Flemish Nationalist Party of Belgium and the Center Party of Holland objected that the exhibition unfairly depicted them as anti-Semitic when their opposition is only to large-scale immigration of people from Third World countries and the expansion of Islam in their countries.
A request to hold a news conference was rejected by the mayor of Amsterdam.
The protesters decided to hold it instead at the home of the Center Party’s secretary-general in Dordrecht, a city south of Rotterdam. But it was barred by the local mayor after the anarchist Squatters Movement threatened to create a disturbance.
Police prevented reporters from entering the house, whereupon the activists inside resorted to loudspeakers. At that point the arrests were made. All detainees were released a few hours later.
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