The Netherlands cannot ban foreign imams as demanded by the Dutch parliament because that would discriminate against Islam and undermine religious freedom, government advisers said on Tuesday.
The murder last year of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Dutch-Moroccan man upset by his criticism of Islam sparked a fierce debate about the integration of the 1 million Muslims living in the country, who make up 6 percent of the population.
The Dutch parliament demanded a ban on residence permits for foreign imams from 2008 and asked the government to promote schemes to train more moderate Dutch-speaking Muslim preachers and deport imams suspected of promoting radicalism.
The Advice Commission for Foreigners' Affairs (ACVZ) said in a report the government could promote Dutch training for imams but should not try to keep out foreign Muslim preachers.
"The ACVZ cannot see how this violation of freedom of religion can be justified. A general ban on foreign imams is also contrary to the principle of equality if it is not also valid for other foreign ministers," the commission said.
"Excluding imams is neither efficient nor effective as a measure against problems of public order and security."
However, the commission did recommend that foreign ministers be obliged to take extra integration courses and exams within two years of their arrival in the Netherlands, with the prospect of permanent residence after 10 years in the country.
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