THE HAGUE, 17/08/07 - Labour (PvdA) leader Wouter Bos will have to decide in the next few weeks whether to sign a declaration of support for his fellow-party member Ehsan Jami. Bos is not pleased with Jami's attempt to make leaving Islam discussible. But the founders have formulated their statement of support in such a way that Bos may dare to sign it.

Jami, 22, a PvdA council member in Leidschendam, is setting up a Committee for ex-Muslims on 11 September. Since he announced this initiative this spring, he says he has been physically assaulted three times. The first two incidents only emerged when he was assaulted for the third time last week and the government found it time to offer him protection.

Meanwhile, a Support Committee has been set up which is calling for solidarity with Jami's committee. This committee, consisting of science journalist Michiel Hegener and political science professor Jos de Beus, has sent a letter to dozens of politicians, journalists, writers and academics asking them to sign the Declaration of Support. Among these are the leaders of all the parties in the Lower House.

Bos stated last week: "The PvdA will not back a committee that thinks that by insulting or offending people for their faith it can attain the goal" of making leaving Islam discussible. He was referring here to what he considered insulting statements by Jami, among others about the Prophet Mohammed, who was according to Iranian refugee Jami a terrible man.

Bos claims at the same time that he does support making apostasy discussible. The committee calling for support for Jami's committee offers him an opening; their declaration "makes it clear to ex-Muslims that they do not stand alone when they stand up for their right not to believe" but also adds: "The signatories have nothing to do with all other activities of the Committee of Ex-Muslims, such as making criticisms of Islam."

Bos is not the only doubter. Leftwing Green (GroenLinks) leader Femke Halsema is also keeping her cards close to her chest. And insiders say the Christian democrats (CDA), too, may not sign. The leaders of the Socialist Party (SP), conservatives (VVD) and Party for Freedom (PVV), are virtually certain to sign.

Electoral consequences appear to be the reason why about half the Lower House parties would rather not speak out about the Jami affair. Although not having a large Muslim following looking over their shoulders to the same extent as the PvdA, the CDA is also one of the parties that has had virtually nothing to say about Jami's assault and mission.

The exact contents of the Declaration of Support are not yet known. This will be revealed on 11 September at the official presentation of the committee of ex-Muslims, with the disclosure of all signatories.

Two prominent Muslims have already decided not to participate. Zeki Arslan of multicultural institute Forum, who is of Islamic origin and now an unbeliever, is refusing to do so. "Jami has forfeited his credit. He called parts of Islam backward and compared the Prophet Mohammet with Osama bin Laden," explained Arslan. Writer Naema Tahir has also declined. The Pakistani, who does not shrink from pornographic passages, says she has her "own form."