World Wants To Ban Fitna

Religion, along with business and government, is a center of power in our society. We would never think to ban criticism of business or government. So, why would we entertain, even for a second, the idea that we ought not be allowed to criticize religion?

The only rational answer is because we are afraid of Islam, and that is exactly why we must criticize it even more.

The world community is reacting to Fitna the Movie by condemning it and attempting to ban it. How ignorant and short-sighted.


EU Springs into Action, Condemns 'Fitna'

Following the release of Geert Wilders’ film Fitna, the European Union is quick to reassure the Islamic world that the whole idea of “free speech” is probably overrated: EU condemns Dutch anti-Islam film.

(CNN) — The European Union on Friday condemned a new film by a Dutch lawmaker which is critical of Islam and features controversial images of the Prophet Mohammed.

The 15-minute film, titled “Fitna,” was posted on a London-based Web site Thursday. It immediately drew criticism from the Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who said the film equates Islam with violence.

“We reject this interpretation,” Balkenende said in a statement. “The vast majority of Muslims reject extremism and violence. In fact, the victims are often also Muslims.”

Slovenia, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said it supported the Dutch government’s position and believes the film does nothing to promote dialogue among religions.

“The European Union and its member states apply the principle of the freedom of speech which is part of our values and traditions. However, it should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs and convictions,” the Slovenian presidency said in a statement.

“Mutual tolerance and respect are universal values we should uphold. We believe that acts, such as the above-mentioned film, serve no other purpose than inflaming hatred.”


Pakistan summons Dutch Ambassador to lodge protest over Fitna

The offense deepens. "Pakistan protests over Islam film," from the BBC:

Pakistan has summoned the Dutch ambassador in Islamabad to lodge a protest over a controversial film on Islam, Fitna, published online.

The 15-minute film by Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders sets verses from the Koran against a background of violent images from terror attacks.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the film was defamatory and "deeply offended" Muslim sentiments.

Did Pakistan's Foreign Ministry ever say that about 9/11? 7/7? The Madrid train bombings? Any act of Islamic terror?


Iran: Fitna "heinous, blasphemous, and un-Islamic"

-- and Eurodhimmis should ban it
Funny how they never called the violence depicted in the film -- violence that the perpetrators justified with reference to the Qur'an -- "hateful, blasphemous, and un-Islamic."

"Iran, Indonesia angry over Dutch Koran film," by Niclas Mika for Reuters:

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Iran and Indonesia on Friday condemned a film by a Dutch lawmaker that accuses the Koran of inciting violence, while Dutch Muslim leaders urged restraint. [...]
Iran called the film heinous, blasphemous and anti-Islamic and called on European governments to block any further showing.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation and a former Dutch colony, also condemned the film.

"We are of the view that the film has a racist flavour and is an insult to Islam, hidden under the cover of freedom of expression," a foreign ministry spokesman said. "We call on Indonesian people not to be incited."

What race is Islam again?

Dutch Muslim leaders appealed for calm and called on Muslims worldwide not to target Dutch interests. The Netherlands is home to around 1 million Muslims out of a population of 16 million.
"Our call to Muslims abroad is follow our strategy and don't frustrate it with any violent incidents," Mohammed Rabbae, a senior Dutch Muslim leader, told a news conference in a mosque in an Amsterdam suburb that is home to many Muslims.

"Looking for conflict there is looking for conflict with us," he added before an imam made a similar appeal in Arabic.

"INFLAMING HATRED"

Dutch authorities reported a calm night in contrast to the unrest that swept the country after the murder by a militant Islamist in 2004 of Dutch director Theo van Gogh, who made a film accusing Islam of condoning violence against women.

Earlier this month, Dutch security officials raised the national risk level to "substantial" because of the forthcoming Wilders film and perceptions of an increased al Qaeda threat.

Wilders, who has been under heavy guard because of Islamist death threats since the murder of director Van Gogh, has seen support for his anti-immigration Freedom Party rise in anticipation of the film to about 10 percent of the vote.

The Dutch government has worked for months to distance itself from Wilders and try to prevent the kind of backlash Denmark suffered over the Prophet cartoons.

In a statement on live television on Thursday evening in both Dutch and English, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said he rejected Wilders' views and was pleased by the initial restrained reactions of Dutch Muslim organisations.

The European Union supports the Dutch government's approach and believes the film serves no purpose other than "inflaming hatred", the Slovenian EU presidency said in a statement:

"The European Union and its member states apply the principle of the freedom of speech which is part of our values and traditions. However, it should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs and convictions."

Mind you, the European Union has never, ever said anything like that regarding attacks on Christianity. The point is not just the double standard; it is that they are allowing violent intimidation to succeed, and that will only lead to more violent intimidation.


Pakistanis protest Fitna

The predicted and predictable outrage begins -- over a film, mind you, that merely depicts how jihadists commit violence and justify it according to the Qur'an. Yet that fact itself has never aroused outrage among significant numbers of Muslims, such that they would be moved, say, to mount protests against it.

"Pakistanis protest Dutch film," from The Associated Press:

KARACHI, Pakistan -- Dozens of Islamists in Pakistan have staged a protest over an anti-Quran film made by a Dutch lawmaker....

Pakistan's largest Muslim party, Jamaat-e-Islami, organized Friday's protest outside a mosque in Karachi.

Some protesters demanded Pakistan cut diplomatic relations with the Netherlands over the film.

Oh, and just in case you missed it, here's the movie Fitna.


Bangladesh has already seen demonstrations against the film.

Kurt Westergaard and his union are contemplating suing Wilders over the unauthorized use of his cartoon to open the film.

NATO is concerned that the film could affect their operations in Afghanistan.
That's an interesting concern - the Taliban who are behind the ongoing instability are featured in the film, along with al Qaeda. They don't need any excuses to attack the West or NATO. They've already got their grievances and demands for non-Muslims to submit to Islam. They could, however, add fatwas for Wilders' death.

Al-Qaeda websites post photo of Wilders: "The Dutch, enemy of Allah, has done what he threatened to do and distributed his film"

"Dear brothers, remember what happened to Ariel Sharon. Now let's hope that he (Wilders) ends up the same way."

"Islam: Al-Qaeda-linked sites post photo of Dutch MP behind anti-Koran film," from AKI (thanks to Insubria):

Dubai, 28 March (AKI) - A photo of Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders has been posted on several Islamist websites linked to al-Qaeda, after his anti-Koran film was released on a video-sharing website on Thursday.

Wilders' 17-minute film entitled Fitna, criticised Islam's holy book, the Koran.

The film sets verses of the Koran against a background of images from terrorist attacks.

"The Dutch, enemy of Allah, has done what he threatened to do and distributed his film," said a banner in an Islamist website.

The message is followed by dozens of posts by visitors of the site asking for Muslims to act against him.

"Dear brothers, remember what happened to Ariel Sharon. Now let's hope that he (Wilders) ends up the same way," says a member of the forum.