Union Federation Wants National Muslim Holiday

UTRECHT, 14/10/06 - "The CNV trade union federation feels that a Muslim feast should be introduced as a bank holiday in the Netherlands. The Christian trade union federation is willing to sacrifice a Christian holiday.

CNV vice chairman Rienk van Splunder wishes 'to offer Muslims the freedom to practice their faith'. The federation is prepared to sacrifice Whit Monday or Easter Monday for a free day during the Sugar Festival. This is the feast day held to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.

Van Splunder feels the feast days of other religions are insufficiently honoured in the Netherlands. By introducing official holidays on such feast days, he hopes to create 'freedom and respect for one another'.

Last year, CNV reported it was not yet prepared to sacrifice Whit Monday for a free day during the Sugar Festival. 'But his can no longer be sustained in 2006,' as Van Splunder stated Friday.

According to Van Splunder, Whit Monday and Easter Monday originate from the Christian tradition but the holidays have long lost their Christian meaning. 'For most Dutch people, these two holidays have turned into extra shopping days'. The CNV vice chairman denies that he is calling into question the Christian tradition of The Netherlands."

A pox to European influence. - HH