Political Islam according to the Dutch

The Dutch attitude towards Islamist movements or “political Islam” is as much determined by internal developments in the Netherlands as those in the Middle East. It is not so much political Islam itself—of which people know little—but rather the process of secularization that has swept the Netherlands during the past half century. This accounts for the Dutch distrust of religion and its imposed restrictions and dogma. As a country that prides itself on its toleration and openness as a result of its secularization, it was surprised and angered to be confronted with a new religion within its borders when Muslim migrants came to the Netherlands. Instead of withering away, Islam was very much alive and challenged the values the Dutch stood for. As a result, Islam and especially “political Islam” became the great “Other.” By some it was considered in the same role as Christianity earlier, as the opposite of “enlightenment.