Saturday, September 14, 2019

What Children Are Being Taught in Some Mosque Schools in the Netherlands

Hat tip Ben

The below article from the Netherlands reveals the disturbing nature of material being taught to Muslim children in certain Salafist mosques in the Netherlands. They are being taught that non-Muslims deserve the death penalty as well as apostates, adulterers and homosexuals. They are also taught to reject Dutch values. Salafism is one of the most fundamental strains of Islam and is responsible for much of the radicalism that Europe is experiencing. The below article, from NOS-Nieuwsuur is the result of an investigation carried out  by that news organization along with another news organization NRC Handelsblad. It was passed to me by a Dutch friend who is shocked and angered that such things could be taught in his country.

Translation by Fousesquawk.


https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2301159-grote-zorgen-tweede-kamer-na-onderzoek-salafistische-moskeescholen.html

Great concern in the Second Chamber (Parliament) after investigation into Salafist mosque schools

Tuesday 18:00-domestic


Children in Salafist mosque schools learn that people with another religious belief or life style deserve the death penalty. They also learn to turn away from Dutch society and the principles of equality and freedom.

In various mosque schools, instructors teach that Muslim youths must leave this infidel land and settle in an Islamic land. That is the conclusion of an investigation by Nieuwsuur and NRC Handelsblad regarding Salafist institutions that fall outside of regular education.

Shocked

Both in the political circle and within the Islamic community there is a shocked response. Gert-Jan Segers of Christian Union and VVD leader Klaas Dijkhoff want to have the law amended so that after (information has been received), the education inspectorate can also intervene in informal education, whereas now, it can only inspect regular schools.

The Moroccan-Dutch Society also reacted in shock. A sheikh, an imam and an Islamic teacher, active in traditional Moroccan mosques, call the Salafist lessons, "horrible".

Nieuwsuur and NRC conducted an investigation into dozens of education centers, which are Salafist or influenced by Salafism, and studied the the teaching material for different age groups. Teachers throughout the country glorify a system where sharia punishment, the Islamic law, apply.

Death by sword

From lessons and from the (text)books, children learn which groups and sorts of people are "enemies" or "unbelievers", and go over the death penalty that among other, adulterers, homosexuals, apostates, and so-called "wizards")  deserve. Children get fill-in exercises and multiple choice questions. They must, for example, choose the correct punishment: a lashing, b stoning, c death by sword.

Within informal Islamic education, Salafism, a fundamental movement within Islam is is becoming increasingly influential. Nieuwsuur and NRC identified at least 50 educational places which are Salafist or becoming strongly influenced (by Salafisn). Here more than a 1,000 children take Islamic lessons on evenings or weekends.

Accountability

In this investigation, NRC and Nieuwsuur listened to about 70 hours of audio and video recordings of lessons which the (Islamic) organizations themselves put online. The editors also asked the organizations about their teaching material. Then, when it appeared that they were not open about it, the two editors decided, due to the enormous societal importance, not to identify themselves as journalists. The two editors approached the organizations asking which educational materials they use, presenting themselves as parents considering enrolling their children. After this, they came into possession of the teaching material.

Threats

Said Bouharrou, from the Council of Moroccan Mosques, is worried over the influence of Salafism within Islamic education in the Netherlands, which he also sees growing. "It is 5 (minutes) to 12," he says. According to Bouharrou, various Moroccan-Dutch imams are worried but don't always dare to speak out for fear of reprisals.

Salafists would threaten more moderate imams or put pressure on them. Last year an investigation by Nieuwsuur and NRC showed that dozens of Islamic organizations in the Netherlands have received funding or applied for funding from the Gulf states in recent years.

The flow of money is controversial due to the concern that Salafism is being exported to Dutch houses of worship. The Second Chamber (Parliament) has, for years, asked for transparency over the flow of money.


Reactions (from) educational organizations

Three organizations where Salafist lessons are being given have reacted to the questions from Nieuwsuur and NRC

Foundation Taubah in Veenendall emphasizes that Islamic teacher Aboe Aicha has since left, (and) say that it is not a Salafist organization, leaving the question of whether the foundation stands behind the utterances of Aboe unanswered.


Abou Bakr Assadik Mosque in Almere renounces the statements of Mohammed Youyou in a lesson (given) in the mosque. "This concerns quotes that we as a board completely reject and we find that they are not in line with the principles of Islam." 


Foundation As-Sunnah in Maastricht reacts with an explanation of 4,000 words in which the foundation, among other things, attempts to (place) nuance that not everyone who deviates from the righteous teaching must be boycotted, (and) such a measure should be applied for people who stubbornly ignore the "new light". On the lesson on physical punishment for various offenses, As-Sunnah says, "It has been made clear in this lesson that we as Muslims must abide by the laws in the Netherlands. Our goal in the concerned lesson was to prevent extremism."


Click here for all reactions.

Response from SGL Maastricht: "In this broadcast, images are shown of the SGL in Maastricht, which can give the impression  that Salafist education is currently taking place in this location. That is not the case. The named Islamic organization has in the past made use of this location.SGL ended this a year and a half ago and has no connection with this Islamic organization. SGL is a health care institution, and from a social point of view, makes its locations available to local social organizations and associations." 

See below the investigation into financing of Islamic organizations in the Netherlands:

Also see:

Investigation into mosque financing - the triptych*


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