Outgoing Dutch Mayor Defends Secret Mosque Investigation

Outgoing Dutch Mayor Defends Secret Mosque Investigation
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According to a report by IQNA, the outgoing mayor of Delft, Marja van Bijsterveldt, has stated that she will not apologize for a secret investigation into a local mosque. The investigation was conducted in 2017 and 2018 to look for signs of radicalization and extremism within the Muslim community.

While expressing regret for the impact of the investigation on the community, Van Bijsterveldt defended the city’s actions. She stated that the municipality acted in good conscience, citing the context of young people from Delft leaving to join jihad at the time.

The Al-Ansaar foundation, which operates the largest mosque in Delft, has described the mayor’s comments as “disappointing and incomprehensible.” The foundation had previously taken legal action, resulting in a court order for the municipality to share the study. Despite the controversy, the mayor maintained that she has a good relationship with the majority of the Muslim community and believes that local governments should be able to act when they perceive problems.