3 October 2007

AMSTERDAM (dpa) - Dutch Labour party PvdA chairman, Ruud Koole, says Islam critic and Labour council member Ehsan Jami is distancing himself from party ideology with his statements about Islam.

In an article published in daily newspaper, Volkskrant, Wednesday, Koole is quoted as saying that Labour representatives are "expected not to go against fundamental party principles in his public statements."

On 27 September, 22-year old Jami and Freedom party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders co-wrote an article in the newspaper in which they stressed the need for strong criticism of Islam.

"If we do not act now against the far-reaching Islamisation of the Netherlands," the two wrote, "then the 1930s will be revived. The only difference is that back then the danger came from Adolf Hitler, while today it comes from Mohammed."

Koole, in the Volksrant article Wednesday, refers to Jami's remarks about the Islam as "degrading" ands says they also contradict the principles of a democratic constitutional state "which guarantees freedom of religion."

Jami is a Labour council member in Leidschendam-Voorburg and the chairman of the Committee for former Muslims. He has received little public support from his party following his criticism of Islam.

In August, he was given personal security after being attacked for the third time, allegedly by Muslim fundamentalists who disagree with his views.

Labour remained largely silent following the incidents, but the Liberal VVD and the liberal-rightist PVV party both rallied around Jami.

[Copyright dpa 2007]

Subject: Dutch news