THE HAGUE, 6 September 2005 — Three Dutch mosques launched a code of conduct yesterday to help fight radicalism, promote democratic values and encourage imams to speak Dutch in return for tougher action on discrimination against Muslims.
Three mosques from De Baarsjes district of Amsterdam, which started work on the code shortly after the murder last November of outspoken filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Dutch-Moroccan man, presented the text to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
“It is in all our interests that we fight extremism and radicalization. Freedom of speech and democracy only work when everybody plays by the rules of the game,” Balkenende said. “We need each other in this country,” he said. “We have always been open and tolerant. The Netherlands is a country to be proud of. But it is not automatic. We need to work at it.” The code commits mosques to promote the Dutch constitution and be on the look out for those who express “extremist ideas”.
Mosques that sign up will consult with the family of any potential militant and offer support and advice, but if such a discussion does not lead to a change in behavior, the mosque pledges to report the person to the Dutch authorities.
Fatih Dag from the Turkish Aya Sofya mosque said: “We are also threatened by terrorism just like every other Dutch citizen.”
