Dutch minister to appoint army imam chaplain as planned

By a narrow majority, the Dutch parliament approved a controversial appointment of Moroccan-born Ali Eddaoudi as a Muslim chaplain to the Dutch army. A joint motive by the right-wing VVD party and the Christian Democrats was narrowly defeated, with 69 members of parliament voting yes, and 70 no. Eddouadi’s appointment as a Dutcy army’s chaplain stirred controversy because of comments Eddaoudi made earlier about the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and comments about general relationships between Christian and Muslims. Opponents to his appointment felt that Eddaoudi’s statements were so “hurtful” that they made it impossible for him to function in the Dutch army. The criticisms were not enough, as parliament approved his appointment as a Muslim army chaplain by just one vote.

Share Button

Sources