Both the Netherlands’ ruling parties now have their doubts about plans to scrap blasphemy from the statute books, Nos television reports on Wednesday.

During Tuesday’s debate in the upper house of parliament, or senate, Labour senator Nico Schrijver questioned whether scrapping the blasphemy laws would offer minorities sufficient protection against their religious sensibilities being hurt.

And VVD senator Heleen Depuis said if Christians feel threatened by blasphemy then you can reason that their freedom of religion is being compromised and that the legislation should stay.

The coalition government has recently agreed to work together more closely with the minor religious parties ChristenUnie and SGP to ensure majority support for its economic policies. Both parties are strongly opposed to ending the ban on blasphemy.

The senate will vote on the plan next Tuesday. The motion was passed by a large majority in the lower house of parliament.