DutchNews.nl - Wilders' film hits his party's popularity

Wilders' film hits his party's popularity

Saturday 29 March 2008

The launch of Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam film Fitna has hit his political party’s popularity, according to the weekly Interview NSS poll.

Wilders’ anti-immigration PVV party would have 10 seats if there was an election today, two seats down on last week’s total and only one more than the current situtation.

On Friday evening the LiveLeak video share website which was hosting Wilders’ film removed Fitna from its servers following what it said were threats of a ‘very serious nature’.

‘This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well-being of our staff above all else,’ said Liveleak.

Earlier, the United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon described Wilders’ film Fitna as ‘offensively anti-Islamic’.

In a statement after the film was put online, Ban said ‘there is no justification for hate speech or incitement to violence. The right of free expression is not at stake here.

‘I acknowledge the efforts of the Dutch government to stop the broadcast of this film and appeal for calm to those understandably offended by it. Freedom must always be accompanied by social responsibility.’

Meanwhile the Dutch journalists union NVJ has written to Wilders asking that the film be re-edited to remove shots of a cartoon featuring Mohammed with a bomb in his turban.

The Danish artist Kurt Westergaard was not asked for permission for its use and says it was never his intention for the cartoon to be used for political propaganda.

For the UN reaction, click here
For more on the film's contents, click here
For more reactions, click here
For background on Wilders, visit NRC Handelsblad's special English-language site

Subscribe Newsletter
Print-version
News archives

Readers' comments

Freedom of speech must accompanied by not only social responsibility but also vision of mind. If any ignorant or layman does that kind of stuff ( we can understand about the the vision or knowledge he/ she had) But if a lawmaker in dutch parliament willingly flaring the anti Islamic elements , then i would say , " PITY on dutch people and on the parliament to have such a nasty and foolish people within their circle. BY mocking PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON HIM) and by making disturbing presentations ," ISLAM AND MUSLIMS ARE NOT IN DANGER" BUT whatever response Islamic world will entertain ,"IT is their right of freedom and speech".

By Mohammad Umer Pervaiz | March 30, 2008 4:18 PM

It is unfortunate that a member of dutch parliament failed to recognize the history of his own country. The Netherland was in Indonesia (country with the largest Muslim population in the world)for 350 years and gained so much fortune from Indonesia's resources and forced labor. Of all the people in the world the dutch should know better that Islam is a peaceful and tolerant religion as proven in the case of Indonesia.

By victim of bigotry | March 30, 2008 6:55 PM

"...In a statement after the film was put online Ban said ‘there is no justification for hate speech or incitement to violence..."

Quite right! So why shoot the messenger? There's plenty of the above in Fitna, but none of it from Wilders. The film is just a summary of what's bothering people in the West, all of it publicly available. Wilders is just trying to focus our attention on it.
Muslims, put your house in order. Moderates, stand up and be heard. It's time for Islam to grow up.

peace.

By Alan | March 31, 2008 6:56 AM

Very weird! Ban Ki-moon described Wilders’ film Fitna as ‘offensively anti-Islamic’. But ain't the very pictures and videos in the "Fitna" are various Islamic groups made?

Wilders doesn't bring before us something new and unknown materials. The Muslims themselves took shot of the pictures and published them in their own sites. Why to be less pure than the Islamic "purity"?

Why do the Muslims allow themselves smearing others, especially Jews, by despicable ways?

By Abe Bird | March 31, 2008 8:44 AM

The far right or the far left are never responsible for the downfall of a society, civilization, or culture. It's usually the complacent middle who is to blame.

By Tim Lee | March 31, 2008 8:57 AM

If you expect people like Mr. Wilder to love his 'Fellow Filipino Christians immigrant" you are eluding yourselves. They use anti-Islam rhetoric as a vehicle for their racist agenda. No more or less.

Why doesn't Mr. Wilder attack Arabs, Indonesians, etc.. and name his "nemesis" by nationality rather than what religion they adhere to instead of this lame tactics-Is he trying to avoid being labeled as xenophobe, so he does what it seems a common and fashionable practice (of hate) in Europe; use religion of "hate"to advance his blatant neo-NAZI agenda-how low and absurd.

Even if the entire Muslim world would suddenly become Christian, there will always be Wilders. It won't change a bit! Europeans are always have this mindset even against each others, otherwise how could you explain 70 million Europeans perished in two World Wars and millions in the 100 Years War (Catholic extremists against Protestant ditto). It seems that Europeans are as tribal as any Afghan warlord but even more ignorant.

By Observer | April 2, 2008 1:10 AM

Comments have been closed for this article.

Comments