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June 7, 2006
Holland: Radical Muslims Gain More Influence In Mosques
We reported earlier that in 2004, Jacques Marcel Verhagen had criticised the extremism of the El Tawheed mosque in Amsterdam. Verhagen, head of the Christian Democrat Party, had also criticised Sharia law, and for this had been accused of "Islam-bashing" in a report by the WRR, Holland's "Scientific Council for Government Policy".
This report was entitled "Dynamism in Islamic Activism, Reference points for democratization and human rights", and a full English translation will be available in July. As we discussed on April 15, the report recommends opening communications with extremist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizbollah and Hamas, despite the latter two's track records of breaking international agreements and standards of conduct.
It also attempted to state that Sharia Law could bring about ""in certain nations, an improvement in the situation of women," an obvious piece of leftist wish-fulfillment with no basis in fact.
Now, news from Expatica reports that radical Islam, particularly in the extreme form known as Salafism, is gaining a greater foothold in Dutch mosques.
This observation was part of another report, the fourth progress report on combating terrorism, presented today in the Netherlands parliament. The report has been compiled by Interior Minister Johan Remkes and Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner.
Their report stated that ultra-orthodox Salafism was becoming an increasing presence in more mosques nowadays. Salafism attempts to return to the "pure Islam" of the time of Mohammed. It is descended ideologically from Kharjitism, a movement which started in 657 AD. Kharjites murdered from the start, and their killing of "Imam Ali" led to the Sunni/Shia schism.
Salafists have also been linked to the Wahhabists of Saudi Arabia, who have an extreme and puritanical interpretation of Islam. This movement was formed by Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703-1792). Wahhabists call themselves al-salaf or "the pious ancestors".
Johan Remkes claimed that the Salafists and radical Islamists have been successfully employing the internet and lectures to recruit more members, and to hold balances of power within moderate mosques. Remkes and Donner said that the ideology and influence of such Muslim extremists was a cause for concern.
Meanwhile, the monarch of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix (pictured), and the Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende have become embroiled in a controversy.
On 3 June, Queen Beatrix entered the Mobarak Mosque in the Hague. She removed her shoes and in respect to the religious sexism of Islam, she refrained from extending her hand to the Muslim men present. The visit commemorated the 50th anniversary of the mosque's construction.
On Tuesday evening (June 6), Jan Peter Balkenende made a speech in which he called for tolerance of all religions. He said that Muslims have a right to freedom of religion. Balkenende claimed that this freedom of religion assisted people to feel welcome in Dutch society. He cited the example of the queen's visit as a demonstration of tolerance in action.
When Balkenende visited Indonesia at the start of April, he claimed that Islam was not a danger.
Politician Geert Wilders had responded to April's statement with the comment: "No danger? Islam is the biggest danger in the world." Wilders should know. He has been on the receiving end of numerous death threats from Muslims, threats which were also received by his former parliamentary colleague Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Today, Geert Wilders made an outspoken attack on both Balkenende and Queen Beatrix, accusing them of "dhimmi behaviour", states Expatica.
He said: "The Queen and Prime Minister Balkenende are putting Dutch norms and values in a bargain sale. Particularly now that the behaviour of the Queen is being presented by the Prime Minister as an example of tolerance."
Wilders said that he was "irritated purple" by the Queen's decision not to shake hands with Muslim men at Mobarak Mosque. "Iron" Rita Verdonk, the Immigration and Integration minister was outraged previously on a visit to a mosque, when the imam refused to shake her hand.
Wilders said: "We must instead make the case for Dutch norms and values." He will be tabling parliamentary questions to Balkenende on the subject.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at June 7, 2006 3:20 PM
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