Modern Moslem Women....Ms Nebahat Albayrak

For most societies, women are still not often encountered in the realms of government and power.


Muslim women in particular, are not exactly noted for being at the forefront of world-wide political reform, but in Holland, Ms Albyrak has taken the reins of justice and is certainly ploughing a new furrow.

Unlike the US and the UK, Holland is actually seeing a fall in crime, and thus a fall in prisoner numbers, so much so that they are closing down eight prisons, and laying off 1200 guards.... Everyone happy, except the right wingers!

Some might say that crime is low, because personal drug use is not prosecuted, and others say that it is due to prosperity and the inherent good character of the folks that live, mostly below the level of the sea.Whatever the reasons, Holland arrived at a point where their crime rate is actually decreasing....


They have approximately 1 prisoner per 1,000 population, the US has almost 1 per hundred, and the UK somewhere around 1 per 150.Factor in the trend towards privatisation in the US and the UK, and the smell of "prisons for profit" cuts across any valid argument of jail being a deterrent or even a cure for crime.


So, maybe our politicians should take lessons from those who have a proven record in crime reduction, rather than sounding off about the need to persecute and prosecute the less fortunate, they should defer to those who have not only successfully reduced crime, but have built a far more cohesive society.