“People with penises”: laughter in the debate about rape. “What’s the joke?”

Debate in the Amsterdam City Council on a sensitive area had unusual expressions. President had to intervene.

The alert was left just over a month ago, in the Netherlands: in Stek Oost residential complex in Amsterdamseveral cases of sexual violence, rape, harassment, stalking, or knife threats.

The report shown on the channel called into question this project, created 8 years ago, to integration between students Dutch and legal refugees. It is a system of “godparents”.

When this experiment began, security problems also began.

Among the approximately 250 residents, the most frequent victims are students, mainly women. Complaints of violations.

Residents are afraid and feel insecure. And they complain that their complaints lead to nothing.

A Amsterdam City Council refused to end the initiative.

Therefore, there was debate in the Chamber this Thursday, to decide what to do.

There were hours and hours of debate, according to . With one focus: did the Chamber have the reaction that was required? Did you intervene quickly and effectively after so many reports of insecurity?

The parties that are in municipal power defend video surveillance or reinforced social management. Municipal councilor Zita Pels emphasized that absolute security guarantees do not exist.

The political division remained visible until the end: the JA21 party says this case is “a deep shame”; wants to end the concept of mixed housing in complexes. Other parties have highlighted that mixed housing works well in many places.

Two motions of censure were presented. They were rejected.

“People with penises”

In the middle of the debate, a very strange atmosphere developed, describes Oost-Online.

Several of the speakers began to say that criminals are “people with “penises”, or “people with these members”.

When this expression began to be repeated, an atmosphere of laughter out of control – and several people, and the public present, began to get irritated.

Femke Halsema, Mayor of Amsterdam City Council, felt she needed to intervene: “This is a serious debate. Stop this nonsense”.

CDA party leader Rogier Havelaar also showed his frustration, questioning what the inhabitants of Stek Oost would gain from this atmosphere in the municipal debate.

One of the people present in the public gallery also sighed: “As a resident, I would be here watching and seeing the councilors laughing at ‘penis’ on this issue. It would be embarrassing.”