Dutch Court Rules Mosque Investigation in Veenendaal Violated Muslims’ Rights
Dutch Court Rules Mosque Investigation in Veenendaal Violated Muslims’ Rights
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A Dutch court has determined that the municipality of Veenendaal unlawfully conducted a covert investigation into a local Muslim organization and mosque without their consent, Iqna.ir reported.
The court ruled that Veenendaal acted illegally by commissioning a secret inquiry into the Taubah foundation and its mosque, infringing on the community’s right to privacy. This decision is the first judicial ruling related to a series of similar investigations targeting Muslim communities in several Dutch cities, including Almere and Delft.
The 2018 investigation was carried out by the private firm NTA (Training & Advice) without informing the Taubah foundation. While Veenendaal claimed that some interviewees were aware, the foundation and its community were not notified, and internal information was gathered without approval. The court found the investigation process to be opaque and lacking in legal fairness.
Critics have condemned these investigations as manifestations of institutional bias and Islamophobia. The practice of hiring private companies to scrutinize mosque communities without proper oversight sparked national outrage when exposed by NRC and Bureau Spotlight in 2021.
Leaked emails showed that the investigation report was circulated among multiple government ministries and the intelligence agency AIVD, without giving the foundation an opportunity to respond.
As a result, Veenendaal is now legally required to disclose all recipients of the report within 30 days or face daily fines.
Bilal Riani, a member of the Taubah board, described the ruling as “fantastic,” according to NL Times. Meanwhile, Mayor Gert-Jan Kats publicly apologized, acknowledging the damage caused and pledging to work on rebuilding trust with the Muslim community.
