Delft mayor won't apologize for secret investigation into local mosque

The mayor of Delft, Marja van Bijsterveldt, regrets the impact that the municipality’s investigation into the Muslim community in the Zuid-Holland town had, but will not apologize for it. In an interview with de Volkskrant, Van Bijsterveldt, who is stepping down Tuesday after nine years as mayor, said that Delft acted in good conscience at the time, considering the context and the era. “An apology would not be sincere to me in that light, just an empty gesture.”

In 2017 and 2018, Delft, like several other municipalities, commissioned an investigation into radicalization and extremism within the Islamic community. The investigation was carried out by the company Nuance door Training & Advies (NTA) and funded by the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV).

The Al-Ansaar foundation responded by saying that they found Van Bijsterveldt's comments to be "disappointing and incomprehensible." Al-Ansaar is the foundation behind Delft’s largest mosque. Al-Ansaar accused the mayor of showing “no self-reflection,” according to the foundation’s lawyer, who also serves as its spokesperson. The foundation and its lawyers are still considering next steps.

According to the court, it is plausible that there was no legal basis for it. Last February, the court ruled that the municipality of Delft must share the study with the Al-Ansaar foundation, in a case brought by the foundation behind Delft’s largest mosque.

Van Bijsterveldt told the newspaper that the ruling was followed immediately. According to her, the investigation must be seen in context. “It was eight years ago, and it really was a different time. Young people from Delft left for jihad and never returned,” she said. “Then the national government, through the NCTV, came to us: ‘We’re worried it could happen again, and it would be good to conduct an investigation.’ I believe that as a local government, we acted entirely in good faith.”

The departing mayor said that she regrets how it turned out. “Trust was broken for some people, especially the board of Al-Ansaar. But I also believe that in the Netherlands, when problems arise, we must be able to act if necessary.” According to Van Bijsterveldt, she has maintained a good relationship with the vast majority of the Muslim community. “I’m hardly ever confronted with it anymore.”

Van Bijsterveldt will bid farewell to the council and invited guests on Tuesday. Her successor, Alexander Pechtold, will be sworn in as mayor of Delft on Thursday.