By Wafa Bubnad, IOL Correspondent
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.