Wizdom
15-02-07, 20:55
Row over Muslims in Dutch cabinet
Geert Wilders' Freedom Party opposed the two
Muslim nominees [AP]
http://www.geenstijl.nl/mt/archieven/images/wilderspruik.jpg
A far-right political party has objected to the appointment of two Muslims to the Dutch cabinet because they have dual nationalities, but withdrew the motion later.
Ahmed Aboutaleb and Nebahat Albayrak were to become the ministers for social affairs and integration respectively in the new government being formed by the prime minister.
They would be the first Dutch cabinet members who are Muslim.
An opposition member of parliament for the nationalist Freedom party, Sieste Fritsma, said the two should be barred because they have second nationalities - Aboutaleb also holds Moroccan citizenship, and Albayrak Turkish.
Fritsma said they "remain the servant of two different countries and that can lead to conflicting interests, and that's why it's necessary to oppose this."
His remarks were interrupted by an uproar of protest from MPs across the political spectrum until he was cut off by the gavel of the parliamentary chairwoman, Gerdi Verbeet.
Verbeet adjourned the session, and when it reconvened she said Fritsma had withdrawn his motion to block their appointment because it conflicted with the Dutch constitution prohibiting discrimination, which he had sworn to uphold.
Geert Wilders, the leader of the Freedom party, told NOS television later that Verbeet, a Labour party member, was using her position to support the two designated cabinet members, who belong to the same party.
The Freedom Party won nine seats out of 150 in elections in November 2006.
Aljazeera
Geert Wilders' Freedom Party opposed the two
Muslim nominees [AP]
http://www.geenstijl.nl/mt/archieven/images/wilderspruik.jpg
A far-right political party has objected to the appointment of two Muslims to the Dutch cabinet because they have dual nationalities, but withdrew the motion later.
Ahmed Aboutaleb and Nebahat Albayrak were to become the ministers for social affairs and integration respectively in the new government being formed by the prime minister.
They would be the first Dutch cabinet members who are Muslim.
An opposition member of parliament for the nationalist Freedom party, Sieste Fritsma, said the two should be barred because they have second nationalities - Aboutaleb also holds Moroccan citizenship, and Albayrak Turkish.
Fritsma said they "remain the servant of two different countries and that can lead to conflicting interests, and that's why it's necessary to oppose this."
His remarks were interrupted by an uproar of protest from MPs across the political spectrum until he was cut off by the gavel of the parliamentary chairwoman, Gerdi Verbeet.
Verbeet adjourned the session, and when it reconvened she said Fritsma had withdrawn his motion to block their appointment because it conflicted with the Dutch constitution prohibiting discrimination, which he had sworn to uphold.
Geert Wilders, the leader of the Freedom party, told NOS television later that Verbeet, a Labour party member, was using her position to support the two designated cabinet members, who belong to the same party.
The Freedom Party won nine seats out of 150 in elections in November 2006.
Aljazeera