RNW: Uproar at minister's remarks about Sharia - by Rutger van Santen

Piet Hein Donner
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Uproar at minister's remarks about Sharia - by Rutger van Santen

Dutch Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner believes that if, some time in the future, two-thirds of Dutch citizens believe that Sharia, Islamic law, should be introduced in the Netherlands, then it must be allowed. That, says the minister, is the ultimate consequence of democracy. Mr Donner is a distinguished jurist, the product of a long line of Dutch protestant aristocrats and a prominent Christian Democrat politician. He presents this viewpoint in a book due to be published in the near future.

Donner 's view is, of course, a purely academic one. Even the most pessimistic demographer sees no real likelihood of the Netherlands codifying Islamic beliefs in its laws in the next few decades. It's true the Muslim community, only a small minority in the Netherlands, is growing slightly faster than the Protestant of Roman Catholic congregations but the experts think it more likely that Islam will be subject to secularisation in the Netherlands and the number of active Muslims will comprise no more than 10 percent of the population by the year 2050.