Gays and Muslims play soccer to ease tension in Holland

A multicultural group in the Netherlands is organizing a soccer tournament to be played between gays and Muslims. The group hopes the event can counter a rising tide of fear revealed in a recent study among the country's gays and lesbians.

A nationwide survey by the Police Research Academy was published Thursday showing that while only 3% of gays have been physically assaulted, some 40% reported being insulted or verbally abused, and some 80% believed their safety was threatened at some time during the past year.

According to academy director Frits Vlek, who commissioned the research, youths from Moroccan and Turkish backgrounds were most often blamed for violence against gays. "Parts of the Muslim community still resist homosexuality and receive little education about it," he said.

Muslim-gay tension is the theme of the soccer tournament, organized by the Institute of Multicultural Development. The tournament will be held next week. (Sirius OutQ News)

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