Netherlands: Army chaplain appointment to go ahead

Netherlands: Army chaplain appointment to go ahead


Deputy Defence Minister Jack de Vries is going ahead with the appointment of a controversial imam from the Moroccan community as an army chaplain.


The appointment of imam Ali Eddaoudi from Morocco has been opposed by many MPs as he was said to have criticised Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. He had called the prime minister a hypocrite who was worth less than a doormat. Eddaoudi is also alleged to have said that Christians are still at war with the Muslim religion.


Eddaoudi was one of the two imams appointed earlier in the month to give spiritual support to Muslims and non-Muslims in their ranks.


For over a week, De Vries conducted interviews with various parties and Aydin.


The deputy minister stressed Eddaoudi has distanced himself from the controversial comments and said there are no concrete reasons why the contract with the imam should be withdrawn.


(more)


Source: Expatica (English)

See also:
* Netherlands: Army employs two imams
* Netherlands: Parliament questions Muslim chaplain appointment

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