March 28, 2008...6:35 pm
Islamophobia 101: Episode 26–Geert Wilder’s “Fitna” film creating fitna worldwide
LONDON, England (CNN) – A London-based Web site has dropped a Dutch lawmaker’s film that features disturbing images of terrorist acts juxtaposed with verses from the Quran to paint Islam as a threat to Western society, citing threats to its staff.
LiveLeak.com said in a statement Friday that it decided to remove the film a day after it was posted “following threats to our staff of a very serious nature.”
Attempts to reach LiveLeak for further comment were unsuccessful. However, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Beter Balkanende said the government was concerned that Geert Wilders’ film “Fitna” could provoke a violent backlash.
“The possibilities are there of real threats,” Balkanende said. “I have already warned Dutch people that there could be enormous consequences on the basis of our intelligence services and what we heard from the business sector.”
Early response in the Netherlands was restrained, but hundreds of Muslims rallied in Pakistan, where the government temporarily blocked access to YouTube last month over a trailer for Wilders’ film. The protesters burned the Dutch flag and called on Pakistan to cut ties with the Netherlands.
The Dutch government and others, including the European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, have rejected the film. Still, Wilders stood by his project. [more]
Please click here to read the whole article.
Please read the article “Geert Wilders: Islamophobe Extraordinary“.
Geert Wilders wants to ban the Qur’an
Please click here for a rough translation of Geert Wilders’ anti-Islamic manifesto.
Geert Wilders’ Islamophobic Movie Divides the Dutch
Note from Rafik Beekun: Geert Wilders is a political opportunist just like Lepen in France. It is too bad that some are giving him a platform to air his hatred of Muslims. The best that Muslims can do is to behave in the same manner the Prophet (s) behaved with respect to his detractors. For example, he repaid with kindness and even sought to help the lady who was pouring refuse on his back while he was praying. At Taif, he refused the Angel’s offer to punish those who had pelted him with rocks. Here is a series of articles that challenge the very premises of Wilder’s Fitna movie:
Other articles of interest:
1. A Message of Peace from Muslim Scholars to the Pope.
2. Please click here to download the whole 29-page letter entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You.”
3. Against Terrorism and Religious Extremism: Muslim Position and Responsibilities. An extremely helpful and clearly written handout by the Islamic Society of North America addressed to both Muslims and non-Muslims.
4. Brochure Anti-Terrorisme et Anti-extrémisme en langue française. Une brochure extrêmement utile et clairement écrite par la Société Islamique de l’Amérique du Nord (ISNA) adressée aux Musulmans et aux non-Musulmans francophones du monde entier.
5. Full text of fatwa by Islamic Commission of Spain against Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida (in English, French and the original Spanish).
6. Complete text of the British Muslim Clerics’ Fatwa against terrorism.
7. Complete text of fatwa of U.S. Muslim Scholars against religious extremism.
Geert Wilder’s Islamophobic Farce
Ali Eteraz
I just watched Dutch right-winger, Geert Wilders’ film, Fitna, The Movie. He had promised it to be too shocking, too frightening, too disturbing and much of the world was holding its breath in morbid, anxious, wait for its release. The media feared rabid violence by those Muslims.
My initial reaction is a yawn. No surprise, of course. The soundtrack is Tchaikovsky’s mellow classical piece called “Arab Dance.” Quick tip to future demagogues: when trying to incite riots, try not to use musical pieces that are based on Georgian lullabies. Quick tip to future Islamophobes: when trying to demonize Islam, try not to use elements of Western culture that are inspired by Arabs and Muslims as that reveals that Muslims have something positive to contribute to the world.
Anyone who has seen terrorist propaganda films is familiar with most of the scenes and most of the disgusting conflations of the Quran with acts of violence, murder, kidnapping and anti-Semitism. Such behavior has been condemned resoundingly among Muslims. Those that use the Quran for illegitimate and criminal ends should be punished by the fullest extent of the law.
What I’m really wondering: is Wilders’ protesting against Islam or the monopoly extremists already have over grainy, low-budget, YouTube videos? The only difference I see is that Wilders plays the best of Western classical music — an insult to the legacy of Tchaikovsky — than death chants. I guess the thing he can be credited with is upping the sound quality. Also the transubstantiation of “Fitna” into “Fin” at the end was pretty cool.
The rest of the film is a mixture of conflating the most painful and heart-wrenching images from terror-strikes with extremist imams, in an effort to turn the entirety of Islam into a demonic edifice. This is neither new, nor interesting. It is a facile trick for facile minds. Cartoons show more a more subtle grasp of the human condition.
What the film really shows to me is that when it comes to challenging Islamism, Wilders is completely lost. [more]
1 Comment
April 4, 2008 at 9:08 am
[...] 1. Islamophobia 101-Episode 26: Geert Wilders’ “Fitna” film creating fitna worldwide [...]
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