The Christian Democrats are searching for a way to close down mosques in which radical imams preach hate, says CDA MP Madeleine van Toorenburg. The initiative is supported by the Liberals (VVD) and Geert Wilders’ anti-immigration PVV party, reports ANP news agency. However, it is unlikely that a parliamentary majority would support such a move, says ANP. The ChristenUnie, Socialist Party and centre-left D66 have expressed their opposition to the proposal. The CDA and the ChristenUnie are members of the coalition government. The position of the third partner, Labour, is not known. An earlier attempt by the CDA to close down radical mosques in 2005 failed. The new proposal comes in the same week as Geert Wilders’ call for a ban on the Koran which continues to attract widespread condemnation. Socialist Party leader Jan Marijnissen is the latest to add to the criticism of Wilders. On his weblog, Marijnissen calls the proposal to ban the Koran _stupid and unpleasant’.
