The lecture by the African-American 'sheikh' defied expectations, but the furore around his arrival point to underlying tensions regarding Islam in Dutch society.
Yasin had been quoted online as saying that homosexuality should be punished by death, that the World Trade Center attacks were the work of the secret service and claims that the AIDS virus was a plot concocted in an American laboratory to reduce the population of Africa.
Uneasy members of parliament previously debated as to whether Yasin should even be allowed entry into the Netherlands due to past statements. Member of parliament Geert Wilders had called him a "hate-filled man."
In response to questions from members of parliament, Dutch justice minister Hirsch Ballin of the Christian Democrats wrote: "The reporting of various open sources of information has until now not created a picture that he explicity calls people to commit violent acts."
Listening to Yasin's speech at the packed auditorium at the Islamic university in Rotterdam last Friday, the words from the justice ministry turn out to be an understatement. Contrary to some expectations the Brooklyn-born 62-year-old preacher told his audience that they must abide by the law, integrate into Dutch society as much as possible and build a better country together with non-Muslims. At the end of his marathon speech, he thanked the prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and the Dutch queen Beatrix for their hospitality.
During his speech, Yasin gave a message of "tolerance, respect and social reconstruction." Indeed, he said, "Western society offered Muslims the best possibilities for development." He said, paraphrasing John F. Kennedy, "This nation wants to know what one million Dutch Muslims can do for their country." He also warned Dutch Muslim youth: "Don't come to me with the nonsense that you won't obey the kafirs (non-believers)."
Yasin knows better than anyone how to reach people. He has presented his reading 'The Purpose of Life,' more times than "Michael Jackson played Thriller." Yet during his hour-and-a-half long speech, it became clear that his story diverged from earlier versions circulating on the internet. Yasin is a born storyteller, making connections to news in the Netherlands. He said of Wilders' anti-Islamic film 'Fitna': "Shame on him! That he would insult one-fifth of the world's population - muslims."
Yasin also wiped the floor with Geert Wilders, whom the appeals court in Amsterdam decided to have prosecuted for hate speech and discrimination last week. Yasin said the Dutch politician deserved a "judicial slap on the wrist." This remark lead to some countroversy, as the Dutch daily AD mistranslated Yasin's words and claimed he had called for Wilders to be whipped.
Yasin, who converted to Islam after being inspired by Malcolm X, expressed criticism for the Dutch Muslim community, which he said is not doing well. No wonder, then, that Dutch people talk about "those Moroccan youths," according to Yasin. He also criticised pious, fundamentalist Muslims. "Don't be so full of your own righteousness. Islam is not a religion of hermits."
