Muslim advisor row leads officials to quit

Thursday 23 April 2009

Two Liberal executives on Rotterdam city council have resigned in protest at the council's support for controversial Islam expert Tariq Ramadan.

Ramadan, a Swiss national and visiting professor at the city's Erasmus University, is also an advisor to the council on Muslim matters.

The officials are angry at remarks about women and homosexuals apparently made by Ramadan several years ago and quoted by newspaper Gay Krant earlier this month. A council investigation into the statements found the paper's allegations were groundless.

The resignation of the two executives - who formed part of the ruling group - does not mean the city's administration has collapsed. A three party coalition of Labour, Christian Democrats and GroenLinks still controls 23 of the 45 council seats.

© DutchNews.nl

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