Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 1:01am
Netherlands braces for anti-Islam film
The Netherlands is bracing for a film made by a right-wing Dutch lawmaker who says death threats could not deter him from exposing the dangers of Islam. Three and a half years earlier, a Dutch-Moroccan stabbed director Theo van Gogh to death over his anti-Islam film, leaving a note pinned to his chest warning similar critics would be "silenced," Reuters reported Tuesday.
Controversial anti-Muslim lawmaker Geert Wilders, 44, gained support for his Freedom party among an electorate supportive of his right to free expression. "Wilders sets the agenda and has others eating out of his hand," said political scientist Andre Krouwel of Amsterdam's Free University. "He is a very clever politician."
The Dutch government appealed to Wilders not to show the film, then considered banning it, and finally was forced to marshal European support for the likely fall-out and plan an overseas charm offensive and damage limitation campaign. Wilders is expected to air the 15-minute film at the end of the month on the Web site www.fitnathemovie.com.
"Islam is a violent religion. If Mohammad lived here today I could imagine chasing him out of the country tarred and feathered as an extremist," Wilders said in an interview with De Pers daily last year. He also compared the Koran to "Mein Kampf," urged Dutch Muslims to ditch it, and suggested it be banned as an incitement to violence.
Controversial anti-Muslim lawmaker Geert Wilders, 44, gained support for his Freedom party among an electorate supportive of his right to free expression. "Wilders sets the agenda and has others eating out of his hand," said political scientist Andre Krouwel of Amsterdam's Free University. "He is a very clever politician."
The Dutch government appealed to Wilders not to show the film, then considered banning it, and finally was forced to marshal European support for the likely fall-out and plan an overseas charm offensive and damage limitation campaign. Wilders is expected to air the 15-minute film at the end of the month on the Web site www.fitnathemovie.com.
"Islam is a violent religion. If Mohammad lived here today I could imagine chasing him out of the country tarred and feathered as an extremist," Wilders said in an interview with De Pers daily last year. He also compared the Koran to "Mein Kampf," urged Dutch Muslims to ditch it, and suggested it be banned as an incitement to violence.