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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspondent

‘Some were extremely hostile’: how Dutch far-right figure turned to Islam

Joram van Klaveren gestures as he sits on a sofa and speaks next to a microphone
‘The main goal is to take away misconceptions and promote empathy,’ says Van Klaveren. Photograph: Sopa Images Limited/Alamy

He was once Geert Wilders’ right-hand man, crafting Freedom party (PVV) messaging that described Islam as a “lie” and pushed for the Qur’an and mosques to be banned in the Netherlands.

One decade on, Joram van Klaveren is a Muslim convert – the second politician from the far-right PVV to convert – and actively working to dismantle the myths he once peddled.

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