Netherlands: CDA seeks ban on Sharia parties

AMSTERDAM — Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende’s Christian Democrats wants a ban on any party set up to challenge or overthrow the current system of law in the Netherlands.

Such a ban could be used against the controversial paedophile rights party PNVD, neo-fascist groups or any party set up in future to push for the introduction of Sharia Law in the country, according to Christian Democrat MP Sybrand van Haersma Buma.

He was speaking before the start of a debate in parliament about remarks made by Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner (also CDA) about Sharia Law.

Donner suggested in an interview for a book published on Wednesday that Muslim Law could be introduced in the Netherlands if the majority of the public wanted it.

This comment has been met with surprise and hostility from parliamentarians. Snap polls indicated the public isn’t too keen on the idea either.

The Minister later emphasised that he was speaking in theoretically terms. He said he is totally opposed to Sharia.

CDA MPs said there is no room in Dutch society for parties whose philosophies lead unavoidably to criminal acts or threaten the democratic system.

Right-wing MP Geert Wilders plans to table a motion of no confidence in Donner. This is potentially dangerous for the Minister as the CDA-Liberal (VVD) coalition government does not command a majority in parliament. But it may no suit anyone, except Wilders, to claim Donner’s scalp ahead of the general election on 22 November.

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