Racial storm brews

Dutch Christian Democrat MPs have approved a coalition pact with the Liberals, with backing from an anti-Islam party, paving the way for the first post-war Dutch minority government.

The coalition government has drawn criticism from both left leaning members of the Christian Democratic party and human rights organisations. They worry that a deal with Geert Wilder’s Freedom Party will give a boost to Islamophobia in the country.

Under the agreement Wilder will not join the cabinet but has pledged his party’s support to the Liberal-Christian Democrat coalition in exchange for concessions on immigration.

The Freedom Party wants the government to pass a ban on the burqa and to put new restrictions on new immigrants and asylum seekers. The NGO Human Rights Watch has said that it is “allarmed” by the direction the Dutch government is taking on immigration issues.

Massoud Shadjareh, the Chairman of the NGO Islamic Human Rights Commission called the coalitions decision to join forces with Freedom Party “a deeply worrying development for Muslims across Europe” and “political opportunism of the worst kind.

“The role of responsible political leaders should be to ally against extremists in order to ensure the safety and protection of minorities facing persecution, not to pander to fascists for short-term political gain.”

Wilder is a contentious figure in Dutch politics and on October 4 he appeared in court on charges of inciting hatred, insulting a group of people and inciting discrimination. If charged he could be fined as much as €7,600 and could face up to one year in prison but a conviction would not change his ability to serve as a member of the Dutch parliament.   

In 2008 he produced the film Fitna that links passages from the Koran to images of terrorist attacks and in 2007 he compared Islam’s holy book to Hitler’s Mein Kampf.  

The court case against Wilder has brought up the sensitive issue of freedom of speech. Supporters of Wilder say the debate on Islam in Europe is being censored.

“Formally I’m on trial here today, but with me, the freedom of expression of many, many Dutch people is also being judged,” said Wilder.

On Monday, Wilders’ lawyer Bram Moszkowicz challenged the legitimacy of the court after the presiding judge, Jan Moors, appeared to criticise Wilders’ decision not to answer any questions but a special Amsterdam court tribunal has ruled the case can go ahead.

Moors said Wilders is known for making bold statements but avoiding discussions, and added that “it appears you’re doing so again.”