Radio Netherlands : 'Dutch left must be more articulate in Islam debate' - by Michel Hoebink

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'Dutch left must be more articulate in Islam debate' - by Michel Hoebink

Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders and other right-wing Islam critics in the Netherlands imply that 'pure' Islam contradicts democracy and human rights. A moderate or liberal Islam, does not exist in their view. The PvdA, the party with the largest Muslim following in the country, failed for a long time to counter this right-wing rhetoric with its own articulate view. It aligns itself with the liberal Islam that according to its right-wing opponents does not exist. The model for this new approach is the Malaysian Muslim thinker Farish Noor, who flew in last weekend from Berlin to talk to prominent Labour party members such as Integration Minister Ella Vogelaar and Secretary of State Ahmed Aboutaleb of Social Affairs. Farish Noor believes that the moral principles of the Koran are valid for eternity, but that verses such as those calling for the discrimination of women and corporal punishment are no longer valid and have to be understood in their historical context. Noor is shocked by the state in which he finds the Netherlands.

"Right-wing politicians and Islam critics imply that Muslims have to choose between fundamentalist Islam on the one hand and democracy and human rights on the other. Progressive Muslims like myself offer an alternative: We try to show Muslims and the rest of the world that you can be a Muslim and a democrat at the same time. By supporting us the Labour party can break down the right-wing monopoly in the Islam debate and create space for young Muslims to participate in modern life while maintaining their Muslim identity. Are you Muslim and gay? Then the Labour party should support your right to be both at the same time.

"This does not mean that the party should turn its back on traditional Muslims. The party should protect the right of traditional Muslims to be themselves as long as they abide by the ground rules of secular democracy. Religious schools are not a problem but we cannot tolerate imams who tell their audience to beat up gays. Hate speech should be the limit."