The spark was lit in the city of Amsterdam and then swiftly spread to the Hague, Netherlands -- otherwise known for being the bastion of law and order.

Home to the Peace Palace, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, the citizens of this beautiful country, have always been proud of their intellectual heritage. Netherlands has been a tolerant society for many centuries. Erasmus and Spinoza have been symbols of a rational but liberal and flexible approach towards the philosophical context of living.

Their committed attitude against political violence was further integrated into their social framework after the sad annihilation of 130,000 Dutch Jews at Auschwitz and Sobibor by the Nazis during the Second World War. This basic tenet of being against persecution also prompted Netherlands to receive and give permanent residence to more than a million Muslims -- almost six percent of its total population. This happened despite the fact that this is Europe's most densely populated country.

Despite this liberal approach, Dutch society, in recent weeks, has been thrown upside down with the gory killing of filmmaker Theo van Gogh. His film documentary 'Submission,' dealing with the treatment of women in Islam had raised serious controversy on the manner in which the subject had been treated in the film. Many Muslims considered this portrayal as balasphemous. Mr Theo van Gogh was murdered allegedly by a Muslim and a note was affixed to his shirt proclaiming Jihad against Holland, Europe and the United States. It immediately became part of the terrible chain stretching from the World Trade Centre and Bali to Madrid.

This was a mindless and terrible act, but it set forth a spiral of violence. Several Dutch-Moroccan Muslims were arrested under anti-terrior laws. The tragedy did not stop there. A Moroccan immigrant was killed in the town of Breda. Attacks on mosques and Muslim schools took place. This is turn, led to retaliatory attacks on Protestant churches.

These events have sent shock waves through the European Union.

In simplistic terms, analysts observed that the violence was clear evidence of immigration not having been handled properly. They, in more than one publication, concluded that immigration had become a destabilising force. Stryker McGuire writing in the 'Newsweek' took it to another level. He commented that 'it underscores the fact that the clashes of civilisation taking place at the global level -- between Muslims and Christians, between religious fundamentalism and secularism -- are also unfolding inside individual communities and countries on a smaller but still dangerous scale.'

There appears to be some merit in McGuire's comments. Nevertheless, they are not completely acceptable.

It is true that integration of immigrants needs to take place within the host community, particularly if it relates to persons with different social, cultural and religious backgrounds. However, the outbreak of violence in Holland needs to be seen from a broader perspective.

Europe (including Holland, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK) has been under strain for some time. The events of 9/11, and subsequent anti-terror steps have created communication gaps. The continuing war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the failure to find a solution to the Palestinian problem, have all been exploited by certain sections for their own ends. This has added to the bitterness and suspicion and has made it that much more difficult in many European cities to live side by side with people of different cultures. This has been reflected in tension in Rome, Milan, Paris, Brussels etc. This is turn, has been seized by opportunist political elements who have tried to inflame extreme nationalist passions.

The Dutch government's approach towards immigration over the last decade, has been one of support for the immigrant community. However, there appears to have been minimum effort to integrate the immigrants into the Dutch way of living or to try to really understand their sensitivities. It now appears that while separate religious schools were liberally funded in keeping with human rights, very little was done to absorb or be aware of the delicate nuances of different faiths that guide inter-action between various communities.

Awareness or respect for other cultures might have then persuaded Mr van Gogh to desist from making such a controversial film. In every faith, there are sensitive aspects which can be discussed without being portrayed in the negative sense and that is what should have been done.

There are for example, certain rituals among conservative and orthodox followers of Juddaism or Hinduism which have raised questions among many. Despite that, it is their approach to their belief, and this needs to be respected. Every community needs to be permitted to practise any ritual as long as the secular aspects of law are not broken. They should not be made targets for ridicule.

Immigrant population anywhere, particularly the first generation, suffer from psychological pressures of the 'glass-ceiling complex.' It takes time to be accepted and to be successful. In the meantime, immigrants have to swim against the tide. This impacts on the immigrant and might create a ghetto mentality. Social seclusion arising out of such economic under-achievement, eventually also impairs cohesion within society.

The last two years have seen growth of unemployment in Europe. This has also had an indirect effect on racial harmony between the host community and the immigrant population. Radicalisation of the environment has also taken place, because most of those affected in economic terms, are immigrants, and the majority of them are of Muslim faith. This scenario is generating its own dynamics among the Muslims community all over Europe this has also assumed particular importance as Muslims now constitute seven percent of the population in France, about six percent in Holland and nearly three percent in Britain, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. It has not affected Norway, Finland or Ireland that much, as less than one percent of their population is Muslim.

Racial tension has been brewing in Holland since 2002. The national elections held there, that year, saw immigration taking centre-stage as an issue. Dutch populist politician Pim Fortuyn called for Netherlands to re-think its policies towards continued immigration and this enhanced his party's popularity. This debatable nationalistic posture faced serious opposition from human rights activists and eventually resulted in his unfortunate assassination in the hands of an environmentalist.

Whether Europe likes it or not, it has to learn to accommodate Muslims, who take their faith seriously. This attitude has to evolve into the European psyche. Otherwise, it might become even more difficult in the future when Turkey joins the European Union with its 68 million Muslims.

What has happened in Holland in the recent past, is a reflection of the anxiety that prevails throughout Europe. The central question that is facing millions of Europeans today is, how to adapt themselves and their highly secular attitudes to the conservative brand of Islam from North Africa.

The French have already stirred the pot by banning the wearing of headscarves or other 'conspicuous' religious symbols in state schools. They have done this to retain a secular vision of social life.

Several political groups across Europe have also asked for more stringent rules to guide immigration. In a knee-jerk reflex, Muslim radio stations and Web sites have been shut down by the Dutch Parliament. Sadly, it has not been understood that such measures will be seen by the immigrant Muslim community as another example of denial of their rights. It is also unlikely to contribute to the eradication of terrorist prone Islamic groups. It might instead force dissent into the underground.

What is required is calm. Netherlands is a great country which has been associated over time with many poverty and development related issues in Muslim countries. They have always been responsive to the needs arising out of underdevelopment. This factor must not be missed by the Muslims. I believe that time has now come for Muslim Associations in Europe to play a more inter-active and positive role in restoring good-will and better understanding within Netherlands. The Dutch government should also take a step back and try to associate Islamic social workers in their effort to bring back stability. Just adopting a hard response might not work.

Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador -- any response to mzamir@dhaka.net