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Latest update: 28/03/2008
- 'Fitna' (film) - cinema - Netherlands
Dutch film on Islam released on Internet
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.
What do you think about Geert Wilders' film? Should he release it given the possibility that it might provoke violent protests? Should people be free to criticise Islam and other religions? Should there be limits to freedom of expression? Send in your reaction by clicking "React" below — and tell us what country you are writing from.
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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.
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React to the article
(8) Reactions
Yes
Yes people should be free to criticise Islam and other religions, never stop freedom of expression.
condemnation
there should be a limit to critizise any religio, It is also stated in THE HOLY QURAN "that one should not scold others GOD"
Greeks not playing that political game
In Greece we are a Christian (Orthodox) country and I can say that we're among the dedicated ones! Greece was always a neighbor of Arabic countries. Its the first Christian country you meet after you exit the Muslim world. Why we Greeks have NEVER had any kind of religion problem with the Arabs? Why we Greeks have never had any kind of "terrorist" attack from Islamists? Afterall.. we are "fanatic" Christians.. we should have been their first target.
I'll tell why; Because we ALWAYS respected the differences with our neighbors. We always respected their culture. We didnt try to get their land and their oils. Thats the difference and that is why you meet "terrorists" only in places where US interests are into action.
There is no religion that spreads hate. There are people that spread hate. Usually these people work for imperialistic govnts or US puppet govnmts like the Dutch one. Shame for Europe that allows a Dutch guy to insult the whole Arab nation .
Respect the diversity.
Muslim.
humans have holy aspects in their lives....
using freedom to insult one of these holy aspects such as RELIGION, will diffidently cause a major clash between different people, it will divide people into groups that are charged with hate!
this is clearly an attempt to increase the hate against Islam and Muslims...
funding and making this movie was held by people full of anger toward Muslims...
This is just another failed and sick attempt to make people believe more in the stereotypes made up by people like these movie makers to make racism toward ISLAM a way of life in the west!!!
Geert Wilders is using freedom of speech/expression to publicize this movie!!
OF COURSE WE NEED LIMITS WHEN WE GIVE PEOPLE THEIR FREEDOM!
Islam is a religion of peace...
but people pay a lot of attention to racial movies that were made for only one reason.....INSULT PEOPLE AND INCREASE HATE!
people are believing these stuff and the reason is that THEY SEE IT EVERYDAY!
you are being played and manipulated by your corrupted media!
go and learn about the fastest growing religion in
Europe, America, Asia, Australia, India......!!
ALLAH AKHBAR!
may god protect us all!
Critical of Islam
All religions should be criticized when necessary. When an entity becomes so great that it can't handle questions about it's conduct then it becomes a monster.
Extreme right ?
This man is not extreme right at all. His own sister is an environmentalist even, he's got a lot of that too. Plus he's just not main-stream political, he actually strives for a very much improved Dutch political system. He is just very much pro freedom, pro choice, pro true voter powers. He's not a racist, not a xenophobe, and not at all right-wing, as far as his views go. There is no right or left wing in the Dutch government anymore, it just doesn't exist.
Please, stop portraying him the wrong way and do your homework before making him look like some extremist.
Impressions of the Film
After seeing the said film on the right wing blog "Hot Air" I could see why it would make many muslims cringe, it shows graphic images of Islamic violence juxtaposed with the most radical preachers, near the end there is a laundry list of Dutch newspaper headlines showing the local muslims at their worst. It seems to me that the message is more of xenophobia disguised as a call for action on immigration, however Wildeers could have softened it by having moderates speak about the need for reform like another "expose" film on Islam-"Obsession"-did, but he did no such thing and now the film could be the basis of fraying race relations in Holland causing the gap to widen rather than narrow.
Is that not what islam is?
Please i want to ask muslims to please prove what their version of islam is. u see trying to shout, kill, demonstrate will not help matters. prove or disprove what he showed.
Islam wants to show that its a religion of peace, prove NOW! just like Christianity has been abused, Jesus Christ has been called a myth, a farce etc yet we only let it be.