Press Interpreter

06/01/06 -- Labour Party leader Bos thinks the Christian-Democratic CDA puts the relationship between the secular majority and religious minorities in our society at risk.

He attributes this to internal division among the Christian-Democrats in the integration debate and Islamophobia on the part of parliamentary CDA-leader Verhagen.

"If religious tolerance in the Netherlands is faltering, this is because of the uncertainty in the heart of christian politics", said Bos yesterday in a debate with Christian Union-leader Rouvoet about the role of religion in the public sphere. According to Bos, his party has no urge to disturb religious tolerance. "I believe in a pluriform society with spiritual liberty for the different [religious] convictions. In the CDA I discern trouble with pluriformity, because many Christian-Democrats have problems with Islam."

The Islam-fear of the CDA parliamentary party has led, according to Bos, to it now having become almost impossible to found Muslim schools and to Parliament having declared itself in favour of a ban on the burqa. "I don't think it's strange that the Social-Democrats have voted against that ban, I do think it's strange that the Christian-Democrats are finishing off freedom of religion", he said.

Within the CDA, according to the Labour Party-leader, Minister of Justice Donner as classic defender of basic rights and parliamentary party leader Verhagen with his fear of Islam are standing directly opposite each other. He placed Prime Minister Balkenende in between the two, because he takes the responsibility for the tough integration and immigration policies of VVD-Minister Verdonk. "It is still unclear who will win this fight", said Bos.

Rouvoet too, said he was unhappy with the course the CDA was steering in the question of integration, because it does not testify of essential tolerance towards minorities of different convictions.

[Full article]

By the Trouw Political Editors

--Translated By no-itsme

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