The Dutch government has launched a criminal inquiry into Muslim clerics accused of inciting violence from mosques in Holland. The unprecedented move by the Justice Ministry comes after leading imams in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague were caught secretly on tape calling for the "destruction of the enemies of Islam" and encouraging Muslims to "disobey" Dutch law. Inflammatory prayers at the El Tawheed mosque in Amsterdam included recitations of "Allah make your enemies' lives an unbearable Hell" and denunciations of President George W Bush and Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister. Martyrdom was extolled at Amsterdam's El Rahma mosque, where the imam allegedly said: "Female Palestinian Muslims who offer their lives to Allah should be praised." The lower house of the Dutch parliament urged prosecution of the clerics after the tape was broadcast on national television last week by Nova, a prime-time current affairs programme. The wild rhetoric appeared to go far beyond protected free speech, violating Article 6 of the Dutch constitution, which guarantees freedom for all religions and "responsibility to uphold the law of the land". Jan Peter Balkenende, the Christian Democrat leader and likely prime minister said incitement in the mosques was "no longer acceptable". He swept the Left out of power last month pledging to reverse the state policy of promoting multi-culturalism. Some imams have taken advantage of Holland's tolerant climate to preach radical politics at prayer time, leading to a public outcry this year when one urged the death penalty for homosexuals. But this is the first time the authorities have been handed "a smoking gun" in the form of a tape. Marking a dramatic shift in Dutch liberal sensibilities, both Left and Right are now calling for the expulsion of imams engaging in "flagrantly unlawful" activities. Boris Dittrich, leader of Holland's fashionable Left-wing D'66 Liberal Party, said it was deplorable that radical clerics could operate so easily in Holland, adding: "Imams guilty of incitement to violence should immediately be expelled from Holland."

Originally Posted By Minman72: Now lets see how far they run with this. Hopefully it'll be something our government can follow. Maybe along the lines of "inciting people to violence" without getting into the freedom of speech dilemna which I'm sure we can all appreciate. Personally, I'd like to see all muslims expunged just for good measure and all of their assetts "donated" to the 9/11 funds.

Originally Posted By JIMBEAM: I hope they forward a list of these terrorists to us so we can prevent them from immigrating here when the Dutch ask them to leave.

Originally Posted By osprey21: So how about in YOUR city.. ya'll do know where the local mosque is located don't ya ? just curious..

Originally Posted By Bug_splatter: They are preaching hate from mosques all over America right now and have been for a while. They had a huge conference in Oklahoma City. I read a story that they separated people as they came in. If you were not a muslim you were in another roon. But you could here these freaks chanting Down, Down USA. Death to America, Death to Israel. Yes the "religion of peace."

Originally Posted By mattja: Hopefully, this common sense will spread across Europe and the Americas.

Originally Posted By Garmentless: Go to your local mosque. Tape them. If they are saying garbage like that you can ask that their tax-exempt status be revoked. Ouch!