Tuesday 7 October 2008

 

The latest culture as recommended by our staff

Michael Henderson

Michael Henderson suggests


A film-maker who lives in the shadow of a fatwa

Wednesday, 12th March 2008

Geert Wilders, the controversial Dutch politician, says that the Koran should be banned but his film attacking it must be seen. He makes his case to Douglas Murray

‘[We] have such a coward of a Prime Minister,’ he says. ‘They are trying to get fear in the heads of the people of the Netherlands. ‘If something happens they want to say afterwards, this guy was to blame.’

And will he not be at all? Wilders is adamant: ‘I’m not bound to any Afghan or Sufi or Pakistani law. I am bound to the Dutch law and I’m sure that my movie will be within all the boundaries of the Dutch law. You can like the text or dislike the text, like the message or dislike the message, but I’m not doing anything that will be an incitement of hatred or things like that.’ So what is his aim?

‘I really believe that the Koran is a fascist book and Islam — which is more ideology, according to me, than religion — is something that is at least very bad for our values and our society. I’m not a cultural relativist. I believe that we should be proud of our culture. Our culture is far better than the more retarded Islamic culture. So this is why last year in an article I wrote, I said, well, we should ban the Koran. I initiated a big debate with the Prime Minister in the Dutch parliament about it and talked about how it would be good if there could be a new Koran like a New Testament and all the hatred and incitement and intolerance — get rid of that.’ The sole limit to freedom of speech that Wilders recognises is incitement. And this is the problem he has with the Koran.

‘Big parts of the Koran today are still used... to do the most terrible things. And I believe a lot of people don’t know that and I hope it will open their eyes and we will get a discussion going about the real nature of Islam. We should stop this process of Islamisation and we should protect not only our identity but also our freedom more. With the growing amount of Islamisation of both our countries and our societies we will lose our freedoms. At the end of the day Islam will kill our democracy and our society, and I know it will not happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow but there is a process going on and there is a total lack of urgency of people who really feel that it is a threat.’

More articles from: Douglas Murray | this section

Subscribe now

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Comments

Post a comment


Your comment:*

Your name:*

Your email address:*
(We won't publish this)

*Required information

Please click the button only once - your comment will not be published immediately

Luke

March 14th, 2008 8:43am

At least somebody has the gumption to speak up against the creeping threat of Islamification. The liberal intelligentsia that is in charge of the UK seems intent on destroying all of the countries social identity and nobody in parliament is saying a word! In fifty years time, England will be nothing more than a corner of the caliphate unless the spread of this ruinous ideology is stopped.

Max Kaye

March 14th, 2008 6:50pm

I'm sure that in the interests of free speech the BBC will be more than willing to screen this film.

I can't wait for The Guardian review.

John Matthew Bostock

March 19th, 2008 10:05am

I just wish we had politicians like this in the UK.

Hans Beunk

March 19th, 2008 1:24pm

Spot on!

Margaretha

March 19th, 2008 3:15pm

I hope the movie of this very brave man Geert Wilders will open not only the eyes of the Dutch government but also the eyes in the U.K. and in the rest of Europe !

Steef

March 19th, 2008 5:33pm

I think he has every right to make his movie ''Fitna'', though I think he shouldn`t have made it publicly yet. I think he is abusing his seat in the Parliament, cause if he wasn`t nobody would have cared about this movie. I`m from Holland btw ;)

John Allback

March 19th, 2008 8:36pm

Wilders is nothing but a racist. I can't believe there are so many dumb people that have voted for this man. I am sure some of you have already heard an extremist imam before. Well Wilders does exactly the same, you can compare him to a extremist imam.

Margaretha

March 20th, 2008 7:15am

"John Allback
March 19th, 2008 8:36pm
Wilders is nothing but a racist. I can't believe there are so many dumb people that have voted for this man"

Yes 1 million people in the Netherlands who voted for Wilders are all dumb but very much awake! And that is more than I can say about the "clever" people like you who want to sell out our European identity to the islam. Sweet dreams mr. Allback

Margaretha

March 20th, 2008 7:20am

Steef
March 19th, 2008 5:33pm
I think he has every right to make his movie ''Fitna'', though I think he shouldn`t have made it publicly yet".

It was your prime-minister BALKENENDE who shouted about the film all over the world. NOT Wilders!

Mari Sanders

March 20th, 2008 11:21am

Excuse me, Margeretha? 1 milion voters for Wilders? Dream on! Where did you get those numbers? It's far overated.
Wilders is really out of his mind. I'm the last to say that I'm against freedom of speech, but when you're putting other lifes at risk by making a film with the clearly intension to insult a whole culture (I refer to the things he said during the election period, like: 'We have to stop the Tsunami of Islam in the Netherlands.') you're really going 10 steps too far. I still hope it's a bad 1 april-joke.

Jen

March 21st, 2008 4:08am

God bless Geert Wilders! Without people like him, in fifty years time, England will indeed be nothing more than a corner of the caliphate. The rest of Europe will follow. This sums it up! http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=nul>

Jan Klaassen

March 22nd, 2008 1:38am

Mari Sanders iam Dutch youre not youre Jewish and iam telling you indeed alomst 1 million Dutch people voted for Geert Wilders he is now in the polls voor 2 million votes, so pack your bags and return too Israel too fight the Islam who wants too destroy your Jewish people.

marilou

March 22nd, 2008 8:09pm

I can value a (wo)man who stands for her/his case. However the way this is done is not productive i.o t. create a world where people respect each other and try to live together, for: who is in fact the owner of the planet's grounds? No one,we are all granted to make a living upon it and since centuries to move.... Dominance is always a token of insecurity. One should have the right to express his opinion clearly, never the right to condemn another's,avoid a requested dialogue, stimulate groups of insatisfied people to fascist re- actions.. - on either side- and this is what happens around this film in holland and reminds me of the late thirties in the last century...

CHRISTOPHER D.J. WOODMAN

March 23rd, 2008 12:12pm

Hi All, The amount of people that voted for Geert Wilders in the November 2006 Dutch national elections was about 600.000 people. He got 9 out of 150 seats in the "2de Kamer", which is equivalent to the "Commons". In the current opinion polls Geert Wilders is getting more that one million votes. The party of Geert Wilders will keep growing for now, and that is the best thing that has recently happened. I hold a British & Dutch passport / nationality. I am pround to say I voted for Geert Wilder & I will continue to vote for him.

Dieter

March 26th, 2008 6:08pm

The Islam is a problem in Holland a problem in Europe and a problem of the hole world.
If we don't stop it right now it will be to late to stop it.

Politicians are scared
But I'm Dutch and i will never forget that it is my land and it will stay my land.

Jan-Willem

March 27th, 2008 10:19am

In perspective to our most treasured piece of legislation called: "Freedom of Speech" I personally think that Geert Wilders must be allowed to speak his mind and release his movie. In my personal opinion, I seriously doubt the man's sanity, but a lot of Dutch citizins find inspiration and maybe a little comfort in his words. He's the populist who strengthens and comforts the uncertain and scared masses. It has been done for decades by all populists in the world. Ofcourse the Islam has some very extremist en outrages quirks, but my 2 cts is that all religions are like this when they cross the boundaries of common sense. I strongly condemn the infrigment of Islamic extremists in local lawful affairs but every normal muslim will also share this opinion. I think Wilders will be a catalyst for furhter extreme behaviour of islamic terrorists. Pointing out their flaws will not solve the problem.

Vince

March 28th, 2008 2:09pm

I've seen the movie, and yes it proves that the extremist islamic culture is indeed a threat to our western civilization. Wake up Europe

Fred Händl

March 28th, 2008 9:21pm

Reading this rather upsetting article, I can only conclude that mister Wilders should go and run for candidacy of the first European president. Heck, he has my vote!

helmutt brohl

March 29th, 2008 7:31pm

Its interesting to see how many people have already reacted to this film, without having seen it for themselves. I just watched it. There is really not much "news" in the film, its just a collection of events, shown side by side with Quran Quotes. Most of the things there we have seen already, but like many of us we have been living with a type of cultural filter, that tells us not to believe such things. Unfortunately we do have to live with the fact that there is a growing minority of muslims who take the book by word (as instructed) and hate our western society and ideals with a vengeance. Islamification is a rather dirty and generalist word. Just as not every german was a nazi, not every muslim is a islamist jihadist.

Trust in Churchill

March 29th, 2008 10:08pm

"Wilders is nothing but a racist. I can't believe there are so many dumb people that have voted for this man. I am sure some of you have already heard an extremist imam before. Well Wilders does exactly the same, you can compare him to a extremist imam."

Reporting the hatred of others (which is all that the film does) isn't hatred itself. It is just reporting. Winston Churchill (to whom you owe your freedom today) considered Islam to be a more dangerous ideology than Nazism. Look up his warnings on Islam.

UNKNOWN

March 31st, 2008 10:32pm

when your country live in peace ,why you ask for war and terrorist as the world call them...you put your country and your citizen in danger point ,has not back road as this person cross the road and your country too.

Asif

April 5th, 2008 10:59am

Comments on “Dutch movie FITNA” released by a Dutch MP.

* If you see the movie FITNA by an open mind/eyes, you clearly see, the mind/thinking working behind this is only hate of an individual against Islam.

* The film maker picked the verses of Quran out of context and tried to develop hate to Islam among innocent people of other faiths by joining the video effects/clips.
Producer tried to play with innocent hearts by joining video clips like, Twin Tower attack clips, with verses.
I AM ASKING YOU PEOPLE, SHOULD ANY MUSLIM MAKE A MOVIE LIKE THIS “FITNA” AND JOINS THE TEACHING OF “BIBLE” WITH THE PICTURES/VIDEOS OF US ATTACK ON IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN……AND TRY TO PROVE THE SAME AS IN “FITNA”? SURE…..NO. THERE IS NO ANY MUSLIM IN THIS WORLD WHO CAN THINK TO COMMENT THE PROPHET JESUS AND HIS TEACHINGS. IF ANY DOES THIS, HE IS NOT A MUSLIM AT ALL, MAY BE HIS NAME IS LIKE OF MUSLIMS.

* In this movie, speeches of Politician doesn’t mean that it is the sayings of Islam. and individuals’ act don’t mean the sayings of Islam.

Quran Says: “ONE WHO SAVES THE LIVE OF ANY INNOCENT HUMAN IS AS HE SAVES THE WHOLE HUMANITY”

We believe in “FREEDOM OF SPEECH” but with responsibility. By this kind of so called FREEDOM, actually you are hearting the millions of people. In humanity, freedom should be constructive, not for promote the hate in society/world.

More Important: MUSLIMS ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY QURAN and ALL PROPHETS INCLUDING MUHAMMAD, JESUS, DAVID, MOSIS and all others.

I personally feel, the act of Dutch MP is based on hate to Muslims. Not only for Muslims but he is also against his society and country. His Movie will work as a fire in the society of Netherlands as well as in between thousands of Muslims and Christians in the world.

May God/Allah help us to live with peace.


In this section

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Georgia and Ukraine should be allowed to join Nato - Debate report

Lloyd Evans

Lloyd Evans on the latest Spectator / Intelligence Squared debate

I’m proud to be famous for being rude

Giles Coren

Swearing and shouting are underrated, says Giles Coren. Four-letter words can be immensely satisfying and extraordinarily effective

The masters of the universe have turned to drink

Venetia Thompson

The failure of the $700 billion bail-out has driven her former City-boy chums to despair, says Venetia Thompson. But they must rally soon to keep the market moving

Why has the word ‘grandmother’ been banned by the Guardian?

Rod Liddle

Rod Liddle analyses the extraordinary list of mostly harmless words and phrases that are now considered inappropriate by one of our leading national newspapers

Clinton Democrats are to blame for the credit crunch

Dennis Sewell

Our current financial turmoil is not the fault of greedy bankers, says Dennis Sewell. In fact, the banks were bullied into lowering their lending standards by left-wing idealists intent on equal opportunities at any cost

Related articles

This charming man: an audience with the Gover

Fraser Nelson

Fraser Nelson meets the shadow schools secretary and finds him bracingly radical and disarmingly polite: a recipe for success in government

How Dave and George can avoid a terrible rift

Andrew Tyrie

Andrew Tyrie says that root-and-branch reform of the Treasury will be needed when Brown is gone, including weekly minuted meetings. Past friendship is not enough

‘Whoever killed Benazir wants to kill me’

Christina Lamb

Christina Lamb interviews the husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, who hopes to be named President of Pakistan this Saturday

‘I’m not an ambassador for New Labour, I’m an MP’

Martin Rowson

In the latest of his occasional series, Martin Rowson talks to Bob Marshall-Andrews, serial Labour rebel who had the entertaining cheek to accuse Miliband of disloyalty

‘There is nothing saying Labour will ever win power again’

Fraser Nelson

The choice facing the governing party is between defeat and annihilation, says Fraser Nelson. For now, Labour is mired in ‘division without decision’ as Jack Straw, David Miliband and others wait to see who — if anyone — will wield the knife against Gordon Brown

Spectator recommends

Sky TV, Broadband & Talk from £16 a Month

Sky TV & free broadband packages available from £16 a month. Choose from a standard free sky box, sky plus...


Spectator classifieds

ROME CENTRE

PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique

City Breaks. ROME and PARIS

ROME and PARIS: over 350 holiday rentals apartments listed: visit  www.romanreference.com  and  www.parisreference.com or call +39 0648 903612.

Jewellery. RUFFS (Estd. 1904).

Goldsmiths by Design Welcome to Ruffs!  You have found a company of Goldsmiths that specialises in the manufacture, amongst other