Expatica – Cohen: depolarise debate over Islam
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Cohen: depolarise debate over Islam
11 February 2005
AMSTERDAM — Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen has said the debate about Muslims and extremism should be conducted “in a more balanced way” in the Netherlands to avoid further polarisation between the Muslim community and the rest of society.
He said the debate’s aggression — in part being driven by the emergence of a real right-wing in the Netherlands — posed the danger of alienating the majority of Muslims who had integrated and “done well” in the Netherlands.
“There is a need for a depolarisation of the debate,” he said.