 The Dutch parliament is currently debating a draft law presented by the government on radicalism combat, including a TV show to monitor sermons delivered by imams. The controversial measure drew rebuke from a prominent Dutch Muslim scholar who told IslamOnline.net it would deepen Muslim isolation in the country.
| "If you know what we're hollering about we'll feel isolated! Youse guys know how sensitive we are!" |
According to the 32-item measure, one mosque sermon would be televised each week without the prior knowledge of the imam. It would then be debated by the program's guests. Minister of Immigrants and Integration Rita Verdonk told parliament the aim of this program is to draw the attention of young Dutch of foreign origin to the grave consequences of religious extremism. She said mosques should open its doors to the Dutch, who wrongly believe that that the Muslim places of worship are meeting points for people working to undermine the West and coexistence.
"Yeah! We ain't doin' dat!"
"Then what are you doing?"
"Ummmm... Something else." |
The measure proponents argue it would enable the Dutch to know firsthand the teachings of such imams and form their own judgment. The government has so far put forward 10 plans to qualify imams, seen by Dutch Muslim leaders as a ruse to interfere into Muslimsâ affairs.
| "Ain't nobody interferes in our affairs! Whaddya think you are? The gummint?" |
There are some 450 mosques, 1,000 Islamic cultural centers, two Islamic universities and 42 preparatory schools in the Netherlands, serving an estimated one million Muslim minority. Marzouk Abdullah Awlad, professor of Islamic Studies in the Netherlands-based Islamic University of Europe, warned that Muslims âwould feel targeted by this law.â
| They're the ones with the mosques. They're the ones with the imams. They're the ones with the automatic weapons. I guess they're targeted. |
Awlad, also the imam of Rotterdam grand mosque, cautioned that the muzzling measure would drive some imams to go underground.
| "Yasss! Better to having them ranting in public, where they can reach a larger audience!" |
He said the government should acquaint the Dutch with the moderate and tolerant face of Islam as much as it is enthusiastic about addressing the facets of radicalism and the threats it poses.
| If it's all that moderate and tolerant, there shouldn't be any objection to having the sermons publicized, right? |
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