A call by the controversial MP Geert Wilders to ban the Koran in the Netherlands has led to a flood of negative reactions from politicians and community leaders in the Dutch media today. Christian Democrat foreign minister Maxine Verhagen is quoted by ANP news agency as saying that Wilders has _exceeded the boundaries of decency’ with his comments. Religious freedom, like the freedom of expression, is the foundation of the Dutch constitution, he said. Verhagen has sent Dutch ambassadors abroad a copy of a letter in which the cabinet distances itself from Wilders’ comments. Statements by Wilders earlier this year that Dutch Muslims should rip up the Koran caused considerable anger in a number of countries. Integration minister Ella Vogelaar already made it clear yesterday that banning the Koran in the Netherlands is out of the question as far as the cabinet is concerned and will remain so. Wilders’ comments damage inter-community relations, she said.
