Tradition ends after 20 years: Amsterdam police must stop organizing iftars
Amsterdam police are ending their twenty-year tradition of organizing iftar meals for the public to better maintain an image of institutional neutrality. While internal staff holiday celebrations will continue, the police will no longer host or facilitate religious meals for external guests.
The Amsterdam police have announced that they will no longer organize iftar meals for external guests starting next year. This decision marks the end of a twenty-year tradition that included both large events at the Beurs van Berlage and smaller gatherings at local police stations. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel explained that hosting such religious celebrations could potentially compromise the perceived neutrality of the police force, leading to a confusing signal for citizens. The national police leadership, in coordination with regional units, made the final determination despite historical support for these events.
While internal staff dinners for holidays like Christmas, Easter, or Ramadan are still permitted for colleagues, the police will no longer host or organize these celebrations for the public. The move has faced some internal criticism, with some officers questioning the change, noting that the events served as valuable network meetings where meals were shared with the community. Despite these objections, the policy change is set to be implemented, ending the long-standing practice of police-hosted public iftars.
Based on reporting by rss. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
