The first time I'm hearing of persecution over in the Netherlands and unsurprisingly concerns homosexuality:
11/18/2011 The Netherlands (CIC) - A Christian civil servant has been fired by the Dutch city of The Hague for refusing to oversee same-sex marriages on Biblical grounds. Wim Pijl, 67, said Tuesday, November 15, he would take legal action against the dismissal despite parliamentary support for gay weddings.
"For me this is a personal case," explained Pijl. He also told reporters that God opposes same-sex marriages. "As a Christian I learned from the Bible that there is only one marriage, between a man and a woman."
The Hague city government said through a spokesman that it had no other choice than to dismiss Pijl as he had "refused to take back his remarks." Additionally, Dutch parliament effectively sealed his dismissal Tuesday, November 15, with most legislators voting for a law proposal that would force officials overseeing marriages to officiate at gay weddings. The Netherlands has 104 civil servants refusing to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, according to Dutch gay rights group COC.
"I can not discriminate gay couples, but I am discriminated against because of my views. I will seriously look into possible legal action against the dismissal," said Pijl, who is also a former city councilor of a Christian faction.
Pijl is supported in his case by the RMU trade union which said it was "shocked" about the situation.
The Netherlands became the world's first country to legalize gay marriage in 2001(Source).
11/18/2011 The Netherlands (CIC) - A Christian civil servant has been fired by the Dutch city of The Hague for refusing to oversee same-sex marriages on Biblical grounds. Wim Pijl, 67, said Tuesday, November 15, he would take legal action against the dismissal despite parliamentary support for gay weddings.
"For me this is a personal case," explained Pijl. He also told reporters that God opposes same-sex marriages. "As a Christian I learned from the Bible that there is only one marriage, between a man and a woman."
The Hague city government said through a spokesman that it had no other choice than to dismiss Pijl as he had "refused to take back his remarks." Additionally, Dutch parliament effectively sealed his dismissal Tuesday, November 15, with most legislators voting for a law proposal that would force officials overseeing marriages to officiate at gay weddings. The Netherlands has 104 civil servants refusing to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, according to Dutch gay rights group COC.
"I can not discriminate gay couples, but I am discriminated against because of my views. I will seriously look into possible legal action against the dismissal," said Pijl, who is also a former city councilor of a Christian faction.
Pijl is supported in his case by the RMU trade union which said it was "shocked" about the situation.
The Netherlands became the world's first country to legalize gay marriage in 2001(Source).
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