Comments made by the rector of Rotterdam’s Islamic University about non-Muslims are not a criminal offence and are covered by legislation governing freedom of speech and religion, the public prosecution department said on Friday.

Last October, Ahmed Akgunduz caused controversy when he wrote on his blog that opponents of Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are ‘godless’ and enemies of ‘religion and the fatherland’.

He has also been openly criticial of the Alawites, a group within Islam, describing them as not being Muslims and saying contact with them should be avoided. This led the Dutch Alawite community to make a formal complaint against Akgunduz for inciting hatred.

The public prosecution department has turned down the claim, saying the statements should be viewed in the light of freedom of speech and freedom of religion.