Press Release
Response to the So-Called "Risk of Polarization" Among Muslims in The Netherlands
(Translated)

The Dutch newspaper, "Volkskrant" interviewed a number of politicians, including a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) Party for the city of Eindhoven, the politician Ibrahim Wijbenga, and an Amsterdam Imam and a spokesman for (CMO) Foundation, Yassin Alforkani. These guests warned of what they called the risk of "polarization" of the Dutch-Muslim community" by some Muslims; polarization which leads to hatred and divisions.  Wijbenga added, "The people's sympathy with the Syrian issue and their travelling to Syria to fight is a ticking time bomb". Alforkani said that he has been subjected to spitting and insults by some people and has been accused of apostasy, hypocrisy and betrayal because he opposed the travelling of some Muslims to Syria. Because he was subjected to a violent reaction by some Muslims as a result of his stance on the Syrian issue and travelling to Syria to join jihad, he said that it is difficult to organize a dialogue about Islam, democracy and conflict in Syria without providing protection for the interlocutors.

Beginning, it must be remembered that these guests may have personal experiences with some members of the Muslim community in the Netherlands, and regardless of the number and impact of these individuals in the Muslim community; these individual personal experiences should not be used to generalize the Muslim community as a whole. However, this is exactly what happened, their personal experiences have become a base in judging others, and they worked on ripping the community by describing some as extremists and militants. Thus these politicians who warn of polarization and its consequences, they themselves have fallen in what they warn of.

I can speak on behalf of Hizb ut Tahrir, and many of the Muslim community and say: The difference in opinion among Muslims should not go beyond the circle of debate and dialogue to the use of violence and swearing; as violence and insults is not the right way to deal with differences of opinion. This talk is addressed to both parties; and not to one alone. The guests, especially Mr. Wijbenga, who warns of radicalism and polarization, has commented in the mentioned interview, with phrases underrating and belittling some Muslims; he said: "How annoying is the stupidity and ignorance of these Islamic extremists". Therefore, the one who comments with such words should expect angry reactions and is not entitled after that to give warnings and to cry out. However, the most important thing is that, it seems that there was a leap over of the fact that the problem of polarization and spreading division and hatred among the Muslim community is not due to Muslim youth as they claim, but it is a direct result of the continuous policy of the Dutch government that is primarily based on the differentiation and classification of Muslims in the Muslim community into moderates, extremists, fundamentalists and Islamist militants.

Numerous academic studies have been published on the subject of polarization and discrimination; some of these studies have also been adopted at the political level, so such topics are deep rooted in the minds of the Dutch. However, these interviews in "Volkskrant" have opened doors wide to long discussions which led the Minister of Social Affairs, Lodewijk Asscher, to call to debate and to discuss the issue of polarization within the Muslim community in the Netherlands. It also made the media to comment on this press interview, by saying: "The Member of Parliament Peter Hermann learned through Twitter about an interview conducted by the Volkskrant newspaper with two moderate Muslims".

Whether this fact is realized or not, Mr. Wijbenga and Mr. Forkani both work to divide the Muslim community into sects just as the Dutch politicians do. In addition their use of the term "Dutch-Muslim communities" during the interview indicates that this term has been chosen carefully, to imply that there are many Muslim communities in the Netherlands and that Muslims are scattered, even though Muslims see themselves as part of one Islamic society with a difference of opinion among them. But when there is a positive thing for the Muslim community, these politicians appear as speakers on behalf of the Muslim community in the Netherlands.

We in Hizb ut Tahrir, believe that the difference of opinion should be discussed in a manner that is controlled by the Islamic law, and we are also ready to discuss with anyone about the so-called "risk of polarization" or any issue related to Muslims.

Okay Pala
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Netherlands