Dutch minaret motion rejected by most MPs

A motion calling for ‘reticence’ in the placing of visible satellite dishes, the sounding Muslim calls to prayer and the building of big mosques and minarets was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs on Tuesday.


The measure was proposed by the fundamentalist Christian party SGP, which does not allow women to run for office and regards homosexuality as a sin. The SGP has two seats in parliament.
The party said its motion would meet the ‘feelings of alienation and unease among many native Dutch people’ and called on the government to discuss the issue with migrant organisations and the local authorities.
The SGP was supported by Geert Wilders’ anti Islam party PVV and populist MP Rita Verdonk. The right-wing Liberal VVD at first backed the motion but later changed its mind, saying the issue was up to local councils to decide, news agency ANP reported.

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