Wilders: Close all Muslim schools in the Netherlands

Geert Wilders called in a newspaper column to close all Muslim schools in the Netherlands.  This is needed to "protect the kids against the spreading of Islamic teachings."

"Islam is speedily bringing our Western culture to the edge of the abyss.  We have too much Islam in the Netherlands.  Islam is more a violent political ideology than a religion."

He admits to speaking strongly in the Islam debate and that is according to him necessary because it is almost too late.  

Yassin Hartog, temporary president of the umbrella organization of Islamic Schools (ISBO), said Wilders' column was a form of provocation, saying he wasn't much keen for a controversy about this.  "Islamic education has meanwhile taken root in Dutch society."

He also referred in his article to his recent talk with the national coordinator for counterterrorism, saying it was the purest form of intimidation.  According to Wilders, two other Islam critics had been scared off by the same method - being told by an underling to moderate their tone and they have the boss take back the statement.  It is then said, but also "taken back".  Prime Minister Balkenende and Justice Minister Hirsch Ballin can claim they are not responsible.

Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)

See also: Netherlands: Debate needed about Islam, Netherlands: Muslim anger at Wilders