It's been all over the Dutch news. Geert Wilders, whose anti-islamic 'freedom party' has 9 of 150 seats in the parliament, is going to publish his short movie on the Koran next week - if he can find a channel that is willing to broadcast it.

On the homefront it's probably going to be ok. Wilders is safe and won't be following in the footsteps of Theo van Gogh, who got shot for making a movie with MP Ayaan Hirschi Ali, who - in an amazing display of Dutch tolerance - was forced to leave the parliament and she left for the USA. The local authorities are well prepared too, and mainstream muslim leaders are calling for dialogue.

The question is, what is going to happen in the Middle East? Another Danish Cartoon crisis? We hear it's mainly going to depend on the situation on the ground there. Is the youth bored enough to go into the streets?

Response can depend on different factors:

1. How the handling of the subject matter is perceived.
2. How "leaders" "spin" the handling of the subject to those they "lead."
3. What there would be to gain or lose by a specific course of action.

Is there any reason based on these criteria to expect the response to be different than the incident cited by the OP?

I believe the more people in Muslim countries get to know about freedom of speech, the better - regardless of how they get to know about it. Eventually, this will lead to better understanding of and protection for freedom of speech in these countries.

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The film is postponed to somewhere in february. Wilders appeared in a 10 minute interview on Fox.

FOXNews.com - Free Video Player

The first trailer is out!

YouTube - Trailer film Wilders

There have been hilarious countermovies on tv.

Wow, so the view of the book may be “fascist”?

This is troubling to me. We should be able to at the very least get some information on the movie. TV didn’t run it, okay if its just a hit piece, sans any historical perspective or at least an attempt at balance etc. I can understand not running it, but blocking the website is a bit extreme.




Web site of Dutch anti-Islam film is suspended

The Associated Press
Published: March 23, 2008

AMSTERDAM: The Web site on which the Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders was promoting his film, which is said to be critical of the Koran, has been suspended by its U.S. hosting service.

The site formerly showed the film's title, "Fitna" ("Coming Soon"), and an image of a gilded Koran. Now it shows a note that the U.S. company, Network Solutions, is investigating whether the site violates its terms of service.

"Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation," the note said.

The company could not immediately be reached for comment. Its terms of service contain a sweeping prohibition against "objectionable material of any kind or nature."

While the exact contents of the 15-minute movie, due to be released by March 31, are unknown, Wilders has said it will underscore his view that Islam's holy book is "fascist."

Dutch officials fear the movie could spark violent protests in Muslim countries, similar to those two years ago after the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper.Wilders has said he will release his movie on the Internet after television stations refused to air it.
Wilders heads a reactionary party with 9 seats in the 150-member Dutch Parliament, which was elected on an anti-immigration platform. He lives under police protection because of death threats. Wilders could not immediately be reached for comment on Sunday.


"How many ways are there left for me to be worked against?" the Dutch news agency ANP quoted him as saying Saturday. "If necessary, I'll go hand out DVDs personally on the Dam," he said, referring to Amsterdam's central square.

Demonstrators from many different ethnic groups crowded the square Saturday, braving wind and sleet to show their opposition to Wilders.
The protest, called "Netherlands Shows Its Colors," was primarily a reaction in advance to the film.

One protester carried a sign saying "Standing Together Against the Right-Wing Populist Witch-Hunt."

"I'm very much against Geert Wilders and racism in general," said one protester, Elisa Trepp. "I think it's really important to show not only Holland but the rest of the world that there's a lot of people who do not agree with his ideas."

Hassan Iaeti, who traveled for hours from the far south of the country to attend the demonstration, said: "The government could really do something.

That's in the interest of the country - stop him, just stop him."
He said he believed Wilders was abusing the right to freedom of speech, which he said had limits.

To the frustration of some who attended the demonstration, no prominent politicians were among the 2,000 to 3,000 people who the police estimated turned up.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has said that although he rejects Wilders's views, he supports his right to freedom of speech. But he has also warned Wilders that the film could put Dutch interests at risk.
Protesters in Afghanistan burned effigies of Wilders on Friday and demanded that Dutch troops withdraw from the NATO mission there.

A Dutch court will hear a complaint lodged by Muslim groups seeking to bar Wilders from releasing the film March 28, but there is no legal barrier preventing him from releasing his film before then.

It was not clear whether YouTube or other video-sharing sites would be willing to carry the movie.

Last month, YouTube was inaccessible globally for several hours after the government of Pakistan blocked it, citing what it said were offensive clips in which Wilders made denigrating remarks about Islam.



Web site of Dutch anti-Islam film is suspended - International Herald Tribune

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For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile....

Found it pretty cool that Comedy Central has replayed the South Park Cartoon Wars episodes this past week, and now all of this.

Probably not connected in any way, but it is certainly an interesting coincidence.

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Success is measured in blood; yours or your enemy's.

Well, looks like Mr Wilders has done it. I am happy he didn't bow to those to threatened his life.

Still, stand-by for the riots!

'Fitna' Debut: Right-Wing Populist Wilders Releases Anti-Koran Film - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

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Success is measured in blood; yours or your enemy's.

Here is a link to the film (in English)

NOTE: THIS FILM HAS IMAGES SOME MAY FIND DISTURBING

LiveLeak.com - Fitna the Movie: Geert Wilders' film about the Quran (English)

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Success is measured in blood; yours or your enemy's.

Does anybody remember those riots that swept across America as a result of Rev. Wright's sermons? Me neither. Maybe people in Muslim countries could learn a thing or two about giving respect to opinions different from their own.

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Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004

I really hope they do. Though, I doubt it. I mean, Mr Wilders was already sleeping in a different location every night before this film was even released.

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Success is measured in blood; yours or your enemy's.

And the 9/11 conspiracy nuts.



Thanks for posting.

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Anyone who thinks freedom comes cheap, please put the blindfold on and stand against the wall.

Many times I believe Americans will have to take back the country and start a new government.

The sad thing is that while the vast majority of Muslims won't be engaging in violence and calls for death in response, the radical, violent minority will be going out of their way to validate Wilders' positions shortly.

Matt

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When you look at those verses of the Koran, you have to wonder about Islam.

I've not seen similar verses in the Bible, but I'd like to be corrected If I'm wrong and see the comparison.

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Screw Change!! Let's have a Seamless Transition of Power and Policy.. John McSame in 2008!

It's been released. It's not that bad. Not by far as offensive to muslims as the Van Gogh-Hirsi Ali movie.

LiveLeak.com - Fitna the Movie: Geert Wilders' film about the Quran (English)