Since the historic occasion of Geert Wilders’ speech in Berlin, I have felt the wind at our backs, particularly in Europe. New signs of change appear every day in the news, especially in Germany and the Netherlands.
This latest story from NIS News — about a Dutch leftist who has suddenly found her tongue concerning the dangers of Islam — is a case in point:
Groenlinks Calls on Left to Criticise Islam
THE HAGUE, 12/10/10 - Leftwing Green (GroenLinks) leader Femke Halsema believes that progressive politicians and thinkers should dare to make more criticisms of Islam. They are too often accepting the pressure that radical Muslims put on the Islamic community, in her view. Halesema says it is high time that leftwing politicians view the position of women and homosexuals within Islamic communities just as critically as they do when it comes to Christianity. This does not happen at present because there is too much black-and-white thinking, in her view. “There are two flavours: you are either a multiculturalist or an Islam haters,” she said in a lecture on freedom of religion in Utrecht’s Jacobi church.
Halsema condemns this view. As far as she is concerned, everyone can believe how and what they wish, as long as it is a free choice. “Many Salafist, orthodox views have broad support within the Dutch Islamic community. […] These views are forcefully imposed from above and have great consequences for the freedom of women and homosexuals in particular.” “The passion that we exercise to this day to give practising homosexuals access to Reformed Christian schools […] we should also display to ensure Islamic gays and women are allowed to make their free choice,” said Halsema. Halsema considers that leftwing politicians should support the board of a Belgian school which wants to introduce a ban on headscarves to prevent their forcible imposition. On the other hand, everyone who wants to wear a headscarf of their own free will should be able to do so, including police officers, according to Halsema.
“I am convinced that there are thousands of Muslim women in the Netherlands who - due to prescriptions enforced by Islamic authority and complied with faithfully by fathers, uncles and sons - have too little freedom of movement. […] In my own neighbourhood, I see too often that girls are abused if they do not wear a headscarf,” said Halsema afterwards. “That I call coercion. Just like suggesting that it is your own fault that you are raped if you do not wear a headscarf.”
Hat tip: Fjordman.
