A controversial film about Islam by a right-wing Dutch politician, which raised a storm of protest around the world before its release, appeared on the Internet on Thursday. Gulliver Cragg and Nicolas Ransom report from The Hague.

 

Extreme-right depute Geert Wilders’ film “Fitna” (in Arabic: division and discord within islam) is available on the Internet since Thursday Mar. 27. Several Muslim countries like Egypt or Iran, already reacted by blaming the author. Several muslim associations have also called faithful to calm down.

 

The film itself is a medley of images from 9/11, Madrid and London bombings, and beheading scenes interrupted by Koran’s quotes.

 

 

Nicolas Ramson, FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Amsterdam explains the movie is the main conversation in the Netherlands since the film has been uploaded on the Web.

 

Around the Parlement in La Haye, important security measures have been taken to prevent any outburst, though the Dutch government condemned the deputee’s ramblings.

 

 

The media also made the story their’s as Friday’s papers’ front page were all dedicated to the film. On TV, Geert Wilders interview is played in heavy rotation.

Date created : 2008-03-27