A group of Dutch Turkish professionals, including teachers, researchers and civil servants, has written to the Volkskrant to raise the alarm about the ‘extremely worrying’ position of many Dutch Turkish youngsters.

A growing number of Dutch-born Turks are suffering from psychological problems and apathy and are either turning to crime or radical Islam, the group says in its open letter.
‘The Turkish community is very inward-looking. We have tried to solve the problems ourselves but our self reliance has not worked,’ one of the signatories, Aydid Daldal told the paper.
A growing number of young Turks feel they are ‘second class citizens and will remain so,’ the letter states. They are addressed as outsiders – as ‘immigrant, Turk or Muslim’ and increasingly shut out or discriminated against.
Action needed
The letter says the Dutch Turkish community itself is partly to blame for failing to produce strong role models and tackle issues such as domestic violence and the family and community pressures on youngsters.
But the hardening of attitudes towards ethnic minorities in the Netherlands is also having an effect, the letter states.
The signatories urge the government, education system, industry and the Turkish community to take action and make sure these youngsters get the education and leadership they need.