COJEP International and EMISCO have noted with great concern the outcome of local elections in Netherlands. In a historically inter-cultural society, the results in Dutch local polls show that the anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) has made major gains in the Netherlands becoming the biggest party in the medium-sized city of Almere and the capital, The Hague.

It should be remembered that The Freedom Party (or PVV), led by Geert Wilders, is opposed to what it calls the country's "Islamisation" and has called for an end to immigration to Europe from Islamic countries.

Even more worrisome is the fact that general elections have been called following the collapse of the Dutch government in a dispute over the deployment of troops in Afghanistan and the polls suggest that Geert Wilders could soon become one of the most powerful men in the Netherlands and may end up in the government after June 2010 parliamentary elections.

Last year, the PVV came second in the country's polls to the EU parliament. Mr. Wilders is the producer of the film Fitna's which in its opening scenes show a copy of the Koran followed by footage of the 9/11 attacks in the US and the bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005. He has often called the Koran a "fascist book".

Our two pan-European organizations which tirelessly work for the mutual integration of ethnic and religious minorities in European societies and against religious hatred of all types appeal to Dutch voters to use their sacred right to vote carefully and only support the forces of progress and unity.

We would also draw the attention of Dutch political establishment that any political horse trading with Geert Wilders Party would only damage the cause of democracy in Holland and tarnish an enlightened image of Dutch all over the world and especially in the Islamic world.