Dutch populist Wilders withdraws anti-Islamic draft legislation

Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders has withdrawn three controversial legislative proposals which targeted Islam and Muslims amid his effort to find partners to form a coalition government. 

The proposals included a ban on mosques and the Koran as well as a drastic restriction on the basic rights of Muslims in the Netherlands. 

Wilders – whose Party for Freedom (PVV) came out on top after the elections in autumn – informed the parliamentary executive committee on Monday of his decision to withdraw the draft legislation. The move is seen as a gesture to his possible coalition partners. 

On Tuesday, Wilder's party will resume talks with three other right-wing parties about the possible formation of a government. Key sticking points will be whether the rule of law and the constitution remain untouched by Wilders' party. 

The far-right leader surprisingly won the parliamentary elections in October. Wilders, who faces extremely difficult coalition negotiations, had vowed on election night to stay within the boundaries of the constitution and said he wanted to be "a prime minister for all Dutch people". 

The PVV had submitted the three draft laws well before the election. According to one proposal, possession of a Koran would be punishable by up to five years in prison. 

In a second draft law, the basic rights of people with multiple nationalities would be restricted. For example, they would be deprived of their right to vote, under the proposal. 

In the third draft law, Wilders wanted to make it possible for people to be detained without a court order on suspicion of terrorism. 

There was no majority in parliament for any of these proposals. The highest court in the Netherlands classified them as violations of the rule of law.    (dpa)