His name is Geert Wilders and he is a nationalist Dutch lawmaker who leads his own "Party for Freedom" which favours, among other things, the banning the Qur'an in Holland because, he argues, it contravenes Dutch law and is a "fascist book".
An unapologetic critic of Islam, Mr Wilders' rabidly populist rhetoric has won him both fans and enemies in a country already strained with religious tension following the murder of the controversial Dutch film-maker Theo Van Gogh by an Islamist extremist in 2004.
Now Mr Wilders plans to release a short film later this month that, he says, will highlight the Qur'an's more violent passages and expose the religion's true colours. Fearing for the lives of Dutch citizens abroad (but not wanting to look like it is muzzling free speech), the Dutch government has asked Mr Wilders not to release the video but says it will also not stop him if he does.
The title of the movie is taken from the Arabic word Fitna, a term which loosely encompasses the idea of absolute chaos or schism within a religious community (violent jihadis frequently describe the world as being in a state of fitna and encourage each other to "restore" justice by waging jihad).
If the film is released we may well see a repeat of the Danish cartoon protests which led to scores of deaths worldwide and deeply damaged relations between Europe and the wider Muslim world. Despite the fact that the film hasn't even been seen yet, there have already been protests in Indonesia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the Taliban say they will step up attacks on Dutch NATO troops if the film is released.
Whatever its content, this sort of stuff is gold to all extremists (be they Muslim or not) who like to view the current state of the world as an epic battle between good and evil.
Mr Wilders says he has no intention of inciting violence but no doubt if the film is broadcast violence will follow anyway because the extremists have already made up their minds and will milk it for all its political worth. The Dutch politician has yet to find a broadcaster willing to publish the film but has set up his own site to release it anyway.
Like the Danish cartoons, Fitna The Movie, will no doubt once more plunge Europe into another heated debate over free speech. Some will see Mr Wilders as an irresponsible and bigoted individual who is knowingly creating a situation that could lead to violence and greater misunderstanding. Others will view him as a brave libertarian pioneer unafraid of standing up to those who would use violence to accomplish their aims.
Personally I just feel for the world's Muslims who, once the violence starts, will no doubt have to be wheeled out and forced to condemn the actions of a violent few that have nothing in common with their own belief system.
And whether people die or not, Mr Wilders will no doubt keep a close eye on his poll ratings.
Quran a fascist book?? has Mr Wilders actually read it...what a farce. It has been the most intellectual and progressive book for the past 1400 years and continues to be so.
Posted by: Joshua Cohen | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 11:39 AM
I have read the Koran and I wish more Europeans do. It is a call to arms and not much else which puts the world into two sections - Dar al harb (the world of war) and Dar al Islam (the world of Islam). Believers are told to 'fight the unbelievers' until they submit or pay 'Jayzia' which is an unfair tax to let them keep their own religion, even then they only have second class status.
The truth is that bullying tactics are employed whenever someone tries to expose the truth about Islam, and since so few people in the west have actually read the Koran,we automatically side with the 'moderates' who are seriously pulling the wool over our eyes by repeating the same lines over and over again,that Islam is a religion of peace. This is a falsehood that needs to be challenged and that is what Wilders is trying to do.
Posted by: Tom | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 12:01 PM
Hi,
Islam is a religion of peace and ask its followers to be merciful to everyone friends and enemy. But this message is not the weakness of Islam. We (muslims) have to be merciful to those who respect humanity but be harsh to those who create chaos in the world.
The world has been destroyed by western values that allow their allies to kill muslims all over the world (Palestine, India, Afghanistan, East taimor, Kosovo, Bosnia and Somalia) but once muslims retaliate they become militants and terrorists.
Western values include justice for all as well but why not this value is universal and you know the answer better. Abusing Islam is freedom of speech and denying holocaust is a crime. Double standards...
Cost of life of a human being is same but west don't realize that and history always repeat itself.
Posted by: Bilal Abdul Mujeeb | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 12:51 PM
i agree its MK II, however the reactions of the majority of muslims in unislamic and unethical. Im all for political activism such as boycotts and trade sanctions, however the violence will not help the Muslims in any way.
Muslims are being framed by hitting our sensitivies and our communities do nothing but have knee jerk reactions. which in turn causes the mischief makers to say told you there all violent extremists. Muslims are not doing ourselves any favours.
We have known this film hs been developed for some time, why dont we create an international antidote. Create a film which truly embodies the true message of the Quran and its modern application. We need intellectual engagement, these ideological attcks began when Prophet Muhammad began his call to God. let the water slide off the ducks back.
This is great opportunity for Muslims to give dawah, however all we will see again is muslim violence.
Posted by: Mohammed Ali | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 01:01 PM
Tom you show your ignorance in anything to do with the Quran. The Quran, as much as it is a Moral and spiritual book, is a Legal text and with any legal text needs one specialised to read, understand and deduce from it.
I ask Tom, or for any reader, to look at the verses that were revealed at the time when Prophet Muhammed and his companions were being attacked by the Pagan military foes from Mecca. Yes, the Quran DID encourage the Muslims to attack and defend themselves, just like Uncle Sam encouraged young Americans to go and fight the Germans. So context is important.
Posted by: Fiaz Hussain | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 01:08 PM
"O ye who believe! Ask not questions about things which if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. Some people before you did ask such questions, and on that account lost their faith." (Quran. 5:101-102)
009.029
YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
PICKTHAL: Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.
SHAKIR: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
009.029
The truth about Islam is out there and many people know about it. You can't simply tell non-muslims 'Islam is a religion of peace' when it is clearly not or that we are ignorant. This dishonest presentation of Islam is becoming more and more obvious. Just be man enough to admit what you actually believe in.
Posted by: Tom | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 02:16 PM
I doubt Wilders can understand what the Quran is talking about, since most muslims themselves do no. The Quran verses calling for "early" muslims to fight the infidels was strictly meaning the Pagan arabs in the arabian peninsula. The extremists & terrorists extract the verses out of its original settings & historical circumstances then place it in a different background to twist its meaning & allude to fighting nearly everyone!
Women's state today is due to customs & traditions more than the religion which interpretation is monopolised by narrow minded men. Wilders is far from being objective & i don't think he wants to know facts but rather insult & stir a controversy, much like some muslims do. Wilders & extremists are 2 sides of one coin, unforunately.
Posted by: S Ahmed | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 02:39 PM
Ok, ahmed, where exactly is the disclaimer in the koran that it doesn't apply in 2008? It's prescriptive, a call to genocide. And comparing this dutch politician to muslim extremists shows how much credibilty you have.
(isn't it about now you tell everyone the bible is just as violent? Some idiots believe it too)
Infidels are your sworn enemies (Sura 4:101).
Be ruthless to the infidels (Sura 48:29).
Make war on the infidels who dwell around you (Sura 9:123, 66:9).
Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day (Sura 9:29).
Strike off the heads of infidels in battle (Sura 47:4).
If someone stops believing in Allah, kill him (al-Bukhari 9:84:57).
Take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends (Sura 5:51, 60:13).
Never be a helper to the disbelievers (Sura 28:86).
Kill the disbelievers wherever we find them (Sura 2:191).
No Muslim should be killed for killing an infidel (al-Bukhari 1:3:111).
The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land (Sura 5:33).
"Seek out your enemies relentlessly." (Surah 4:103-)
"Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends." (Surah 5:51)
"Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme." (Surah 8:36-)
"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them." (Surah 9:121-)
"Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths (lies), but for the intention in your hearts" (Surah 2:225)
Posted by: Tez | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 03:20 PM
I would love to know what Joshua Cohen has been smoking. It certainly hasn't been tobacco! He stated: "It [the Qur'an] has been the most intellectual and progressive book for the past 1400 years and continues to be so."
That is a most remarkable statement, Mr Cohen!
What is "intellectual" and "progressive" about a book which vilifies non-believers, advocates violence against all that do not submit in obedience to its non-existent god, Allah, and a book which advocates treating women as second class citizens, and calls Jews "apes and pigs".
If you think that is "progressive", then you might also categorize Mein Kampf as "progressive", too.
Geert Wilders is right when he likens the Qur'an to Hitler's tome; and he is right, too, when he calls the book "fascistic".
Geert Wilders is the most courageous politician in Europe. Would that we had more like him, instead of the wimps we have got.
Geert Wilders is doing the right thing in bringing out the film, Fitna. He has my full support, and the support of many others too.
Freedom of expression and freedom of speech must be used lest they be taken away from us. These treasures can be likened to muscles: If they are not used, they atrophy.
It is most remarkable that we have the greatest advocates of freedom of speech and expression these days in two of Europe's smallest countries: Denmark and the Netherlands.
It has been noted that not one British newspaper nor one American newspaper had the courage to print the Motoons. Cowards all!
Posted by: Mark Alexander | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 03:49 PM
The Koran and many of its verses are incredibly specific, as has been demonstrated. The argument that terrorists 'twist' the 'real' message is just another method used by 'moderate' muslims to dupe the non muslims. The reality is that the 'extremists' are infact the only really honest muslims - it is the moderates who are actually more dangerous.The 'extremists' are simply acting on what the Koran tells them to do.
Posted by: Tom | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 03:54 PM
Joshua Cohen you are spot on and I totally agree with you: instead of encouraging people like Geert Wilders, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Robert Spencer, Wafa Sultan, Ibn Warraq...who in fact are our invaluable chance to start looking at ways of reforming Islam, adapting it to modern life and avoiding serious civilisation clashes in the future, Western political leaders continue to say there is nothing wrong Islam and that it's a great religion!
Posted by: A Kabyle (from Kabylia) | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 03:57 PM
ANY religious book is facist in the sense that it prescribes strict rules for the way we live our lives on pain of punishment by a (usually) father figure. Why single out the Qu'ran?
Either all of them are or none of them are.
But for those who are religious then why get riled over things like this? If it turns out you're correct then anyone who expresses these views will be burning in hell for all eternity. Isn't that enough to console you?
If not I would suggest some anger-management therapy.
Posted by: James | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 04:19 PM
Joshua Cohen you are spot on and I totally agree with you: instead of encouraging people like Geert Wilders, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Robert Spencer, Wafa Sultan, Ibn Warraq...who in fact are our invaluable chance to start looking at ways of reforming Islam, adapting it to modern life and avoiding serious civilisation clashes in the future, Western political leaders continue to say there is nothing wrong Islam and that it's a great religion!
Posted by: A Kabyle (from Kabylia) | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 04:27 PM
"Joshua Cohen you are spot on and I totally agree with you..." - A Kabylia
Another who has been smoking a substance that is NOT tobacco!
Islam is what it has always been, and what it always will be. Islam cannot be reformed. Period. There is a good reason for this: The verses in the Qur'an are said to be Allah's recited words. Al-Qur'an actually means 'The Recitation'. The surahs in the Qur'an are considered by believers to be Allah's actual words. Therefore, to change any of them would be considered heresy.
The verses that promoted violence and hatred cannot be airbrushed out of the Qur'an, as you seem to wish could be done.
Therefore, there will be no reformation of Islam, as there was in Christianity. It was possible in Christianity because the Bible is considered by most intelligent people to be 'inspired by God'. In this respect, the Qur'an is very different.
Posted by: Mark Alexander | Thursday, 06 March 2008 at 04:40 PM
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