Dutch Gay Couple Violently Beaten For Holding Hands

This past Saturday, a gay Dutch couple was attacked by a group of six to eight young men who followed the couple on bicycles, shouting anti-gay slurs.

The attack escalated to brutal violence which ended with one of the men losing several teeth and a lacerated lip after he was beaten with bolt cutters.

Via RTL News:

The two were on their way home from a dance party at Luxor Live in Arnhem. “We’ll almost never show in public that we are in a relationship”, Jasper told the broadcaster. “But we had a few drinks, it was dark on the street and there were almost no people, so we held hands.”

When they reached the Nelson Mandela Bridge they were confronted by a group of six to eight young men. “I think they were Moroccans. They began to shout: disgusting, dirty, homo, such things. We shouted something back and walked on, but all of a sudden they came after us.” Jasper said to RTL.

Before they knew what was happening, the two men were pulled apart. “Suddenly I saw a guy pull bolt cutters out of his jacket and I heard Ronnie screaming: Jasper, Jasper, they knocked all my teeth out of my mouth’.” When Jasper reached his partner, Ronnie was covered n blood. “He was very upset. I immediately called 112. The ambulance took us to the hospital, where his lip was attached.”

The latest reports indicate that 4 have been arrested in connection with the attack: one 14-year-old, and three 16-year-olds.

Dutch politicians D66 leader Alexander Pechtold and party member Wouter Koolmees arrived at meetings Monday holding hands in a show of solidarity over the violent attack.

Dutch politicians Alexander Pechtold and Wouter Koolmees