Source: The Daily Times
Wire Service: Reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-12-2004_pg4_5
On December 1, 2004 Reuters reported, "Europe must tackle religious intolerance to reduce the threat of terrorist attacks, the European Union’s top counter-terrorism official said on Tuesday. Gijs de Vries said in an article in Britain’s Financial Times that the murder this month of Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh, who branded Islamic clerics women-haters, and subsequent attacks on mosques in the Netherlands, highlighted the need. 'Confronting intolerance across religious divides and promoting mutual respect ... provide a barrier against terrorism,' said de Vries, counter-terrorism coordinator for the 25-nation EU... He said the international community should counter the threat by uniting to tackle the reasons why some young Muslims become radicalised. 'The absence of peace in the Middle East continues to fuel radical propaganda,' said de Vries."