Blacks and Iranians Need Not Apply!

Two related stories from today's NRC Handelsblad:

Ghanian woman doesn't "fit" in neighborhood
A Dutch woman of Ghanian origin was denied an apartment in the South-Holland neighborhood of Poeldijk because she was "too dark". When an employee of the apartment co-op Ad Hoc saw the woman, she told the applicant that she was probably unsuitable for an apartment in the area because of her skin color. After discussing the matter with colleagues, the decision was reconsidered, but by that time the applicant had withdrawn her application. The Director of Ad Hoc said that while her organization doesn't discriminate, they do examine the potential renters to make sure they "fit" into the neighborhood.

"Denying Iranians an education is in violation with Article 1 of the Constitution"
Legal scholars in the Netherlands are in unanimous agreement that the recently instituted regulations denying Iranians the right to study certain subjects in the Netherlands is in conflict with the Constitution. Earlier this month the government let it be known that nine subjects at five locations in the Netherlands in the area of nuclear physics were off limits to those of Iranian descent. This edict included those who also held Dutch passports. This regulation was passed in supposed compliance with UN Security Resolution 1737 which restricts the transfer of nuclear technology to Iran. The Netherlands is up until now the only country that has interpreted this resolution so strictly.