Dutch Ministers Walk Hand In Hand To Show Solidarity With Gay Couple Attacked

A gay couple, Vernes-Sewratan and Ronnie Sewratan-Vernes, were attacked by a group of men while walking home hand in hand from a party during the early hours of Sunday morning in Arnhem, Netherlands. Ronnie lost four teeth in the attack, while Jasper got away with bruises on his ribs and back.

The attackers, a group of five men called them “disgusting, dirty, homo”, before assaulting the couple.

The police have arrested a 20-year old man and two minor boys of age 14 and 16 in connection with the attack.

To condemn the beating of the married couple, the dutch people held a peaceful march on Wednesday, where protesters walked hand in hand through Amsterdam.

Amid the national outpour of emotion against the attack, Dutch journalist Barbara Barend tweeted a call for “all men (straight and gay) please to just walk hand in hand”.

Kunnen deze hele week alle mannen (hetero en homo) alsjeblieft gewoon hand in hand lopen…

— Barbara Barend (@barbarabarend) April 2, 2017

The hashtag #allemannenhandinhand took off from there and was followed by images from the Netherlands and across the world of Dutch men showing solidarity.

Since the attack, male politicians across Netherlands were also seen holding hands.

Male colleagues from the Dutch Embassy London holding hands in protest against violence towards the LGBTQIA community. #allemannenhandinhand pic.twitter.com/Bp6Mz6UiyY

— Dutch Embassy London (@NLinUK) April 4, 2017

Proud of @APechtold @D66 for leading by example. We want a country where men can safely walk hand in hand #allemannenhandinhand pic.twitter.com/Srx9RGqmio

— Lousewies v d Laan (@LousewiesvdLaan) April 3, 2017

Dutch men took to social media to post pictures where they can be seen holding hands.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSb8Q04AvaQ/?=sa

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSbv6kwAJJZ/?=sa

Netherlands was the first country to legalize gay marriage in 2001 and Prime Minister Mark Rutte described the attack as “terrible”.

The Logical Indian strongly condemns the attack as a breach of individual rights. However, we laud Netherland’s national outpour of emotions for the support of the gay couple. As a nation of progressive individuals, the dutch have set an overwhelming example for the whole world.