avatarAgnes Laurens

Summary

The website content discusses the controversial comparison made by Willem Engel and his action group 'Virus Truth' between the mandatory wearing of face masks during the CoVid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands and the enforcement of the Jewish Star during the Second World War.

Abstract

The article addresses the contentious stance taken by Willem Engel and his group 'Virus Truth' regarding the recent mandates for face mask usage in public spaces in Rotterdam and Amsterdam to combat the spread of CoVid-19. Engel equates these public health measures to the discrimination faced by Jewish people during World War II when they were forced to wear the Jewish Star. The article emphasizes the historical context of the Jewish Star as a symbol of oppression and racism, starkly contrasting it with the health-oriented purpose of face masks during the pandemic. It underscores the importance of face masks in protecting public health and facilitating a return to normalcy, questioning Engel's motives given his scientific background. The article also mentions legal actions taken by 'Virus Truth' against local authorities for alleged unconstitutionality of the mask mandates and provides a background on Engel's career transition from bio-pharmaceutical science to dance instruction.

Opinions

  • Willem Engel and 'Virus Truth' believe that the face mask mandates infringe upon personal freedoms and are akin to the oppression symbolized by the Jewish Star in WWII.
  • Engel accuses the Dutch government of misleading the public and violating the constitution with the mask mandates.
  • The article's author disagrees with Engel'

Coronavirus/CoVid-19/Health/Pandemic/Life

Coronavirus In The Netherlands: Comparing CoVid-19 with the Jewish Star in Second World War?

It is not appropriate to compare CoVid-19 with the Jewish Star. Here is my take on this issue.

Photo by Macau Photo Agency on Unsplash

New measurements were taken in Rotterdam and Amsterdam to wearing face masks in busy places such as shopping centers, shopping streets, and markets. Not everyone agrees with this measurement. That is fine, but you have to keep up to that measurement when you are shopping or doing groceries, and maybe passing through the streets that are signed to wear face masks.

Not everyone agrees with these measurements, and they feel taken away by their freedom. Freedom of walking without face masks and breathing through the nose and mouth.

In The Netherlands, there is a group of people who thinks the Coronavirus is just the flu and that the Dutch government is lying about the data and information they give to its citizens, and that the government is not telling us the truth.

Also, the group thinks that you can compare this new CoVid-19 measurement in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, to wearing face masks in busy places, to the Jewish Star in the Second World War.

They also say that it is against our free will to move freely and without anything on our faces. This group also says that this measurement is decided for us and that — to make up this measurement — is against the law.

The man behind this group is Willem Engel.

“We live in occupied territory. The person who submits gets more rights than the one who does not.”, Engel told RTV Rijnmond. “We have many Jewish people in our organization. These are not my words, but their words.”, he continued.

According to the action group, called ‘Virus Truth’, the face mask obligation violates the constitution. Engel, therefore, accuses Mayor Aboutaleb of “high treason” and wants to start summary proceedings against the municipality. In Amsterdam, summary proceedings are also instituted against the mask.

Engel walked along with a demonstration from the Schouwburgplein to the City Hall on Wednesday afternoon. He is investigating whether Virus Truth can report the crime to the municipality.

“The mask is illegal under the constitution. It is sad to see how the so-called citizen father betrays his people.”, Engel said.

Willem Engel reported on Wednesday the crackdown on the police at the demonstration on Wednesday afternoon.

This is what they fight for:

We fight for the preservation of a democratic constitutional state in which our children also have the opportunity to develop freely and to live a life with their own convictions and opinions. These freedoms and fundamental rights have been increasingly jeopardized in the past decade. We see the COVID-19 crisis as a quantum leap in this worrying development.

This is what said on the website of Virus Truth about Willem Engel:

Willem Engel has made a scientific career as a Bio-Pharmaceutical scientist after graduating from Leiden University in 2001. In 2008 he left the world of science. Since then he teaches dance in his own studio DA Dance Studio in Rotterdam.

Mr. Jeroen S. Pols graduated in 2003 with a specialization in criminal law. Since then he has mainly conducted administrative and civil proceedings. For the past 17 years, he has litigated against governments that are not so keen on laws and regulations.

The numerous procedures surrounding the RIECs have attracted regular attention in recent years. The focus of the procedures is on the illegality of the integrated approach, bringing the cooperating authorities structurally override laws and regulations and violate civil rights.

The question that popped up in my head immediately is ‘Why?’.

Why would someone compare wearing face masks, to protect themselves and others to this virus, with the Jewish Star?

Wearing a Jewish Star is in a totally different context than wearing face masks during the CoVid-19 pandemic.

You should know the history of wearing the Jewish Star in the Second World War.

You should know the facts about CoVid-19.

History of the Jewish Star in World War 2

In the Second World War, these badges were representing the Jewish Star. In the middle of the star, it said ‘Jude’, meaning that a person is a Jew. These badges were Yellow. Jewish people had to wear them, in public. It all started in 1939.

History of CoVid-19

This virus caused by SARS-CoV-2. The CoVid-19 started in China in December 2019, in the city of Wuhan in the province of Hubei. When someone sneeze or cough, the drops of the virus spread through the air into someone else’s body.

The Jewish Star was a sign to let non-Jewish people know you are Jewish. You were forced to wear it, as Jewish people were a target of racism and discrimination during the Second World War.

This is an equality issue.

CoVid-19 is a health issue.

It is a virus we can die from. Wearing face masks makes it possible to slow down spreading the virus. If we all use face masks, the sooner we can back to normal.

When using face masks, you are able to use your freedom again, to do whatever you like to do, after the pandemic is over. The face masks are also forced to wear, but for your health prevention. You will be protected.

Wearing the Jewish Star, you were not protected for your health, you were humiliated for being Jewish. This is racism, this is inequality, this is bullying over someone’s belief.

With his (Willem Engel) background (he was a scientist-pharmacist himself), I don't understand why he is against wearing face masks, and making a statement that we should compare wearing face masks, as it takes away our freedom — like Jewish people had to wear the Jewish Star in the Second World War.

It is like — in my view — that he denies the Coronavirus is not around us. People are dying from this virus, and he says it is just the flu? How will people die from just the flu?

I believe that face masks protect our freedom, to protect our health, to have our freedom to have a healthy life. Even if you don’t believe it, do it for someone else who does take this virus seriously. For your grandmother, for your elderly neighbors.

More stories about the Coronavirus:

Covid-19
Coronavirus
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