One in Three Muslims Not Rejecting Violence against Apostates

Netherlands: This won't make the membership of ex-Muslims go up any faster.

THE HAGUE, 13/09/07 - Thirty percent of Muslims in the Netherlands are not prepared to condemn violence against apostates, according to a survey carried out by Foquz Etnomarketing for TV programme Nova. Seventy percent of the Muslims interviewed answered 'no' to the question whether violence against a person who abandons the Muslim faith is justified. Six percent answered 'yes'. Twenty-four percent did not wish to answer the question. Only 11 percent of Muslims interviewed feel that the committee set up for apostate Muslims is needed. On Tuesday, Labour (PvdA) councillor Ehsan Jami presented such an organisation. According to Jami, the committee only has two members because other former Muslims are afraid to join. Last month, Jami was assaulted. The perpetrators were presumably three Muslims who could not tolerate his message. One suspect has been arrested and has confessed.