Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Ulu Mosque in Utrecht
The Ulu Mosque, under construction in the Lombok neighborhood of Utrecht. October 17, 2013. - Source: photo: İhsan Deniz Kılıçoğlu / Wikimedia Commons at
Crime
Politics
Henk van Deun
Dimitri Gilissen
Mahmut Sungur
Klaas Verschuure
PVV
Islam
Racism
Denk
VVD
Ulu Mosque
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - 07:45
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Anti-Islam leader "prefers" Utrecht mosque to burn down; Won't apologize for radio remarks

The leader of the Utrecht faction of anti-Islam party PVV surprised many by suggesting he hoped that a prominent mosque in the city would go up in flames. The comments brought immediate condemnation from politicians of several parties in the area.

Henk van Deún represented the PVV during a political talk radio show on a local channel. He was joined by the leader of Turkish and multicultural party Denk, Mahmut Sungur, who commented that he wanted to see the city's Ulu Mosque be recognized as a proud local landmark.

"We prefer that it burn down, so to speak," Van Deún responded, according to AD. "We are really against mosques in this country. We do not recognize Islam as a religion," he continued.

"It is an ideology, just like Nazism."

"What a disgusting remark; Unworthy of Utrecht and way over the line," said VVD Utrecht politician Dimitri Gilissen.

"This is the reason why D66 Utrect refuses a cooperation with the PVV!" said Klaas Verschuure, who will top the D66 ballot in Utrecht's election this spring. "There is no place for discrimination in Utrecht."

When given a chance to roll back his statement during the radio broadcast, Van Deún refused, saying he has "nothing against Muslims," but doesn't want to be confronted with aspects of Islam, like headscarves.

He later said his choice of words was "awkward" in a Tweet. "We are against mosques, but people should not have the idea that we will set fire to mosques," he told AD. "But if the mosque should disappear, I won't let that bother me."

"Violence can not and should never be used," Van Deún said on Twitter.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Union: Over a half million remote workers "spied on" by employers
  • Mostly dry week to follow rainy Sunday
  • Oldest part of the Netherlands is 420 million years old and found in Zeeland
  • Police in Arnhem dismantle professional drug lab; One Swede and two Colombians arrested
  • Ambulances line up at student house in Nijmegen to take youngsters to the hospital
  • Hundreds gather at Kasteel Groeneveld in Baarn to protest coronavirus measure

Top Stories

  • Covid infections rise for third consecutive day; 787 IC patients and expected to increase further
  • Amsterdam lands €1.5 billion to extend subway to Schiphol
  • Janssen Covid vaccine arrives in NL next week amid new blood clot study
  • Health Minister tamps down hopes for lockdown relaxations
  • Online surveillance: Dutch counterterrorism organization allegedly uses fake accounts to track people
  • Police say officers facing increased harassment, especially online

© 2012-2021 NLTimes.nl, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact