28/03/2008

Dutch Inflame Islam

The Dutch are on high alert worldwide after one of its politicians released a film criticising the Koran.

The Netherlands warned its embassies around the world to beware of an Islamic backlash last night

Right-winger Geert Wilders posted the 15-minute film Fitna - a Koranic term interpreted as meaning "strife" - on his minority Freedom Party's website.

The film intersperses clips of the September 11 attacks on the U.S. with quotes from the Koran, warning of the dangers to Western society if Islamic fundamentalism is allowed to grow unchecked.

After the words "The Netherlands in the future?" it shows pictures of children with blood on their faces, a woman being stoned and an image of genital mutilation.

It also features the Danish cartoons which caused worldwide uproar for depicting the prophet Mohammed, considered a blasphemy by Muslims.

The film was not available for long because of what the website cited as technical difficulties. But it had provoked protest even before it was shown.

Mr Wilders, who has been under heavy guard because of death threats, said he made the film because "Islam and the Koran are dangers to the preservation of freedom in the Netherlands in the long term and I have to warn people of that".

He added: "It's not a provocation but. . . it's five minutes before midnight and this is the last warning as far as I'm concerned."

(BMcC)


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