Muslim Leaders Sign Code of Conduct to Counter Extremism

September 5, 2005

Source: The Indian Express

Wire Service: PTI

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=54070

On September 5, 2005 the Press Trust of India reported, "Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende today witnessed the signing of a code of conduct with Muslim religious leaders which commits them to rooting out extremism. The code seeks to specify how mosques detect radical elements in their congregations, counter extreme interpretations of Islamic texts and even report suspected extremists to police. The initiative is in response to a 'social contract' signed between the Dutch authorities and mosques after violence erupted, mostly against the country's Muslim community, following the murder of controversial film-maker Theo Van Gogh by an Islamic extremist in November 2004. Under the code, imams will receive Dutch-language classes and training in how to recognise radical behaviour and are required to be particularly vigilant about how they teach certain passages of the Koran."