Dutch Queen Criticized For Her Mosque Visit

On Wednesday, Expatica reported that a member of the Dutch Parliament has strongly criticized Queen Beatrix and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende following the queen's recent visit to a mosque in The Hague. The mosque was celebrating its 50th birthday. At the mosque, the queen removed her shoes and refrained from shaking hands with Muslim men. Subsequently the Prime Minister praised the queen's actions as an example of tolerance in action. Independent Conservative MP Geert Wilders said that the queen and prime minister are far too tolerant. He said, "We must instead make the case for Dutch norms and values."