Netherlands: Muslim oath allowed in municipalities, defense, banned in police
Various provinces and municipalities offer their officials the possibility to take the oath of office in an Islamic manner. Soldiers and civil defense employees can also take the oath for Allah, writes minister Guusje ter Horst (Internal Affairs) in response to a parliamentary question of SGP parliament member Van der Staaij.
According to her regional and local authorities way decide the formula of the oath according to the civil servant law. This is different than for police and national civil servants. They may not make the oath in an Islamic manner.
Van der Staaij called the minister to account after reports that police officers in the Hollands Midden district were able till March 2008 to take the oath for Allah. The oath was taken "in the name of Allah, the merciful," while the right hand was put on the Koran. According to minister Ter Horst this happened "due to an incorrect interpretation of the law," which was done only in "several cases".
Ter Horst writes that this goes contrary to the law and therefore she rejects taking the oath to Allah by police agents.
Taking the oath to Allah was possible for years in the police, but this possibility was abolished after a decision by the Council of Head Commissioners. They removed the alternative option from the protocol last year, because the existing law does not allow this option.
A spokesperson for the SGP fraction says that the party will first study minister Ter Horst's answers further because they decided if future action is necessary.
Source: ND (Dutch)
Previous report: Netherlands: Police agents can take Muslim oath
Various provinces and municipalities offer their officials the possibility to take the oath of office in an Islamic manner. Soldiers and civil defense employees can also take the oath for Allah, writes minister Guusje ter Horst (Internal Affairs) in response to a parliamentary question of SGP parliament member Van der Staaij.
According to her regional and local authorities way decide the formula of the oath according to the civil servant law. This is different than for police and national civil servants. They may not make the oath in an Islamic manner.
Van der Staaij called the minister to account after reports that police officers in the Hollands Midden district were able till March 2008 to take the oath for Allah. The oath was taken "in the name of Allah, the merciful," while the right hand was put on the Koran. According to minister Ter Horst this happened "due to an incorrect interpretation of the law," which was done only in "several cases".
Ter Horst writes that this goes contrary to the law and therefore she rejects taking the oath to Allah by police agents.
Taking the oath to Allah was possible for years in the police, but this possibility was abolished after a decision by the Council of Head Commissioners. They removed the alternative option from the protocol last year, because the existing law does not allow this option.
A spokesperson for the SGP fraction says that the party will first study minister Ter Horst's answers further because they decided if future action is necessary.
Source: ND (Dutch)
Previous report: Netherlands: Police agents can take Muslim oath
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