ROTTERDAM,
September 15 (IslamOnline.net) – Muslim organizations in the Dutch
city of Rotterdam have scuppered bids by the right-wing Leefbaar
Rotterdam (Livable Rogtterdam) party to curb the construction of
mosques and censor Friday sermons.
Head
of the Union of the Islamic Organizations in the southern city of
Roermond, Yusuf Dawran, said the Union has drummed up the support of
other influential political party’s, which opposed the party’s
Islamophobic schemes.
“The
council has eventually rebuffed the petition set forth by the LR,”
he told IslamOnline.net.
The
LR has submitted a petition to Rotterdam’s Local Council, asking it
to deny the Muslim community in the city (around 100,000 people)
licenses to build more mosques.
It
was also pressing for keeping minarets below 35 meters and censoring
sermons and religious classes in the city’s 25 mosques.
The
party won the council elections of March 2002 thanks to his leader Pim
Fortuyn. This made it the city's largest political party after 30
years of the Labour Party.
Leefbaar
Rotterdam started as a spin-off of the national party Leefbaar
Nederland but is commonly seen as the local party of the LPF (Lijst
Pim Fortuyn).
Blatant
Violation
Dawran,
whose union includes up to 40 Islamic organizations, said the LR
petition reflected a “blatant violation” of the secular nature of
the Netherlands.
He
said secularism prevents political institutions from interfering into
the internal affairs of any religious body.
“The
Constitution, additionally, guarantees for all citizens freedom of
religion and worship,” the Muslim activist added.
The
LR move has come across fierce opposition from the key parities in the
country, chiefly the Labor and the Greens and the Socialists.
It
also drew flack from the archbishop of Bergsingelkerk Church in
central Rotterdam.
Domine
Fischer told the Local Council Monday, September 13, that the LR
petition is unacceptable.
“Muslims
do have the right to build mosques and practice their faith freely and
authorities are expected to respect their civil rights stipulated by
the Constitution,” he said.
Sources
have revealed to IOL that the Local Council will organize a discussion
forum with representatives of the Muslim community in Rotterdam in
October.
The
event is aimed at encouraging dialogue with Muslims and addressing
their pressing issues, the sources added.
It
will end up with an international symposium that will bring together
leading Muslim figures worldwide.
