Posted on 06/16/2002 4:17:20 PM PDT by knighthawk
THE HAGUE, June 16 (IslamOnline) - Three Dutch political parties, two of which are partners of the new right wing government, called for giving administrative authorities the right to temporarily shut down mosques, in case they were involved in spreading “hatred instigating ideas”.
The three parties’ call - Liberals, Pim Fortuyn’s Party, and the Democrats - was floated Friday, June 14, after a Dutch TV Channel aired parts of Friday’s Sermons in the mosques of major Dutch cities. Imams of these mosques expressed Muslim fury at the continuous Israeli aggressions against the Palestinians.
Spokesmen of the three Dutch parties described the Imams as “extremists, fanatics, and fundamentalists”. Spokesman of the Democrats 66 Party said, “The parliament has to give the city Mayors and Municipalities’ Heads the authority to shut down, temporarily, mosques proved to be involved [in spreading hard-line ideas], till the Imam is replaced with another less fanatic one.”
However, the Christian Democratic Party - largest among parties of the ruling coalition - and the Labor Party - opposition - rejected the three parties’ call.
Both parties MPs (Members of Parliament) considered closing mosques “unacceptable, and not a solution for the problem”. They also stressed “the necessity - for minorities - to respect the Dutch Laws inside their places of worship”.
Meanwhile, Muslim activists pointed that the call of the three parties comes within a campaign against the Muslim minority, launched after the attacks of Sept. 11. The campaign gained more momentum due to the support, by Dutch Muslims, to the Palestinian resistance. That support set the Israeli lobby in motion to counter it with the Dutch authorities.
The Dutch Interior Minister and Mayor of The Hague City decided to legally investigate accusations, in the media and parliament sessions, against Imams of mosques.
Dutch daily newspaper, De Telegraph, reported Thursday, June 13, that “what the Imams said is not direct instigation for violence, therefore it is not punishable by the law.”
Imam of a mosque in The Hague, Sheikh Fawwaz, during the Friday Sermon aired by Dutch TV, invoked curse on U.S. President George W. Bush and his assistants, in addition to Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon and his soldiers. Fawwaz said, “they will not get away with their evil acts”.
The three parties, participating in the new Dutch government - Christian Democrats, Liberals and Pim Fortuyn’s Party - have agreed on a bill, authorizing the police to repatriate more than 100,000 illegal residents. Half of that number is Muslim residents.
Al-Fateh Mosque in Holland
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