Dutch media Minister Ronald Plasterk has set an ultimatum for two Dutch Muslim broadcasting organisations, NMO and NIO, to cease their quarrels within six weeks.

“Otherwise the shows will be off the air”, said Mr Plasterk. Annual budget statistics from the Foundation for Islamic Airtime (SVIZ) showed that the two organisations were wasting hundreds of thousands of euros on internal bickering.

Public broadcasting in the Netherlands is aimed at giving a voice to each of the diverse cultural, political and religious groups in Dutch society.

The SVIZ was founded in 2007 to distribute the broadcasting subsidy equally between the progressive NMO and the conservative NIO. Every year the arguments between the two broadcasters result in substantial legal and other costs.

The fees paid to lawyers in two recent court cases approximated 200.000 euros. This was paid out of public funds intended for the production of radio and television programmes.