Longest Church Service in Netherlands Holds to Protect Ousted Uzbek Family
In an act of defiance against a looming deportation, a Uzebek family in the Netherlands has found refuge in an unprecedented 24/7 church service, now running for over a month. The family, who have lived in the country for nearly 12 years, had their asylum request denied, leaving them facing imminent expulsion. The Protestant Church ‘Het Open Hof’ in Kampen has stepped in, offering ‘church asylum’ in a bold gesture of support.
The ongoing church service, led by emeritus pastor Riek van Haeringen among others, is a strategic move based on the provisions of the Dutch General Law on Entry, which prohibits the interruption of a church service on the grounds of freedom of religion. This legal loophole ensures the family’s temporary safety within the church walls.
The service, however, comes with its own challenges. It requires a dedicated team of pastors, musicians, and volunteers from across the country to keep it running continuously. Van Haeringen, a noted figure in Kampen where she had studied and worked, is one such volunteer. She’s taking on night shifts to accommodate active pastors’ schedules.
The family, parents and their four children, sought refuge at the church after exhausting an 11-year-long asylum process that left them despairing. Their children, who were raised in the Netherlands, consider it their home, making the family’s precarious situation all the more distressing.
The Protestant Wijkgemeente Open Hof, in hosting this unprecedented church service, aims not just to provide the family with comfort and protection, but also to draw attention to similar conditions faced by other families in the Netherlands. The service, while primarily aiding the Babayants family, serves as a symbol of resistance against unjust deportations and a call for empathy towards those seeking refuge.
