Dutch leftist and rightist Islam critics speak up together

Critic of Islam, Ehsan Jami, and Freedom Party leader, Geert Wilders, compared the Prophet Mohammed to Adolf Hitler in a co-written article published in the Dutch daily Volkskrant Thursday. In their article, Wilders and Jami say strong criticism of Islam is absolutely necessary. "If we do not act now against the far-reaching Islamisation of the Netherlands, then the 1930s will be revived. The only difference is that back then the danger came from Adolf Hitler, while today it comes from Mohammed." The article is a response to an interview with Tjibbe Joustra, chief of the Dutch counter-terrorism body NCTB. In the interview, published in the daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad on September 24, Joustra said making bold statements about Islam and Muslim immigrants might push fundamentalists over the edge. "Everyone is free to express his opinion," Joustra was quoted as saying, "but that does not mean we should say everything. You need to think before you speak." Immediately following the interview, PVV-leader Wilders replied he found it "unfit for a civil servant to say I push extremists over the edge with my statements." Thursday's article in Volkskrant, written together with Jami, fed speculation that by refusing to support the 22-year old Islam-critic publicly, the Labour PvdA party might be driving him into the hands of the liberal-rightist PVV party. The 22-year old Jami is a council member for the Labour (PvdA) party in Leidschendam-Voorburg and the chairman of the Committee for former Muslims. He has received little public support from his party following his criticism of Islam. In August, Jami was given personal security after being attacked for the third time, allegedly by Muslim fundamentalists. Labour remained largely silent following the incidents, but the Liberal VVD and the liberal-rightist PVV party both gathered around Jami. Geert Wilders leads the liberal-rightist Freedom Party (PVV). He has argued in favour of prohibiting the Koran, referring to it as a book that incites violence. dpa rl fs