THE HAGUE, July 3, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The Dutch parliament is currently debating a draft law presented by the government on radicalism combat, including a TV show to monitor sermons delivered by imams.

The controversial measure drew rebuke from a prominent Dutch Muslim scholar who told IslamOnline.net it would deepen Muslim isolation in the country.

According to the 32-item measure, one mosque sermon would be televised each week without the prior knowledge of the imam. It would then be debated by the program's guests.

Minister of Immigrants and Integration Rita Verdonk told parliament the aim of this program is to draw the attention of young Dutch of foreign origin to the grave consequences of religious extremism.

She said mosques should open their doors to the Dutch, who wrongly believe that that the Muslim places of worship are meeting points for people working to undermine the West and coexistence.

The measure proponents argue it would enable the Dutch to know firsthand the teachings of such imams and form their own judgment.

The government has so far put forward 10 plans to qualify imams, seen by Dutch Muslim leaders as a ruse to interfere in Muslims’ affairs.

It has also endorsed a relevant program introduced by Amsterdam University, which was granted 1.5 million euros to that end.

There are some 450 mosques, 1,000 Islamic cultural centers, two Islamic universities and 42 preparatory schools in the Netherlands, serving an estimated one million Muslim minority.

A file photo of a Dutch mosque

Marzouk Abdullah Awlad, professor of Islamic Studies in the Netherlands-based Islamic University of Europe, warned that Muslims “would feel targeted by this law.”

Awlad, also the imam of Rotterdam grand mosque, cautioned that the muzzling measure would drive some imams to go underground.

He said the government should acquaint the Dutch with the moderate and tolerant face of Islam as much as it is enthusiastic about addressing the facets of radicalism and the threats it poses.

“I think a dialogue between representatives of different parties would do in this case,” he added.

Awlad said Dutch Muslims are undoubtedly trying their best to serve and stabilize their homeland, as well as stand up firmly to saboteurs irrespective of their backgrounds.

The draft law also calls for holding an annual conference bringing together experts and politicians to discuss the image of Islam.

It allocates cash for individual initiatives providing job opportunities for jobless young Muslims.

The Muslim minority has been the subject of racist attacks since the murder of controversial filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, blamed on a Dutch of Moroccan origin.

Carrying banners reading “Islam is not an enemy” and “Hatred is not the solution,” Dutch Muslims and non-Muslims took to the streets in March of last year to protest the rising attacks against the minority.