Open letters were send by the Collective Against Islamophobia and Discrimination to the Chairman of the Dutch Parliament and fraction leaders of each political party because of recent statements by Party for Freedom (PVV) member Machiel de Graaf. A tremendous amount of critique was expressed throughout the country because of the controversial PVV member’s statements on the closure of all mosques in the Netherlands and in particular the statement that “Islam is not a religion but a political ideology.” De PVV member also stated that the Netherlands would be “a more beautiful country without Islam.”
The Collective demanded a reinstatement of common civility in the parliament and suggested it should undertake measurements against Islamophobic tendencies. De Graaf’s statements are evaluated as encouraging hatred (and sometimes violence) against Muslims and their places of worship. The letters also cites several instances of violent attacks on mosques in support of their claims. The abject and provocative language used by the PVV, the Collective expressed, could easily lead to heavy tensions and even clashes between societal groups and as such are a danger to the stability of Dutch society.
