Authorities brace for new release said to show Quran being torn up
Officials in the Netherlands, where tensions have been high since a Muslim murdered a filmmaker more than three years ago, are bracing for the release of a new movie by a controversial politician that aims to show Islam's holy book "is an inspiration for intolerance, murder and terror."
In 2004, filmmaker Theo Van Gogh was murdered by a Muslim avenging his film critical of Islam. Two years later, riots protesting the publication of cartoons about Islam's prophet Muhammad left about 100 people dead.
Now, the Dutch government is warning of a 10-minute film to be released this month by parliament member Geert Wilders, who heads the right-wing Freedom Party, reports Agence France-Presse.
Yesterday, ahead of a news conference by Dutch officials, the country's media reported the government has put together a secret document on how to handle reactions to the film.
Last week, Wilders discussed banning the Quran after the head of a group of ex-Muslims compared Islam's prophet with al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
One year ago, Wilders called on Muslims to "tear out half the pages of the Koran and throw them away."
Now, according to some observers, the new movie might feature Wilders burning or tearing up the Quran.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told reporters yesterday his government is prepared for any possible fallout, AFP reported. The Dutch leader said he couldn't comment on Wilders' film, because he had not seen it, but he emphasized his government would not censor it.
"The Netherlands has a tradition of freedom of expression and freedom of religion but also a tradition of mutual respect, and provocations do not fit into that. I call on everybody to take their individual responsibility," he said, according to AFP.
Dutch media reported the government is preparing for a possible evacuation of its embassies and citizens from the Middle East. But Foreign Ministry spokesman Bart Rijs told AFP there were no special emergency measures in place at the moment.
"We always have scenarios for possible calamities at our embassies, consulates and other Dutch representations abroad. They are regularly updated," he said.
Wilders told the Dutch magazine HP/De Tijd he's not turning back.
"Now that everybody is already in a state (over the film), I see it as a confirmation that I should go ahead. I would not be worth a button if I were to capitulate now," he said.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Courtesy: American Enterprise Institute)
Wilders, who has received numerous death threats, has been under 24-hour protection since the murder of Van Gogh, who directed a controversial film written by Wilder's former political ally, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The film, "Submission," centered on violence against women in Islamic societies.
Since then, the government of a nation proud of its liberal social attitudes has cut back on generous welfare programs to immigrants and made Dutch-language classes mandatory for newcomers.
Last fall, Ali, whose life also has been threatened by Van Gogh's murderer, Mohammed Bouyeri, returned to the Netherlands after working at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, because theU.S. would no longer finance her personal security.
Ali, a native of Somalia, was granted asylum in the Netherlands in 1992 and became a legislator for the Liberal VVD party.
Her family moved to Saudi Arabia when she was 6 years old then went on to Ethiopia before settling in Kenya.
Ali told her story in the best-selling book "Infidel," published last year.
Her straightforward criticism of Islam and unabashed appreciation of America were on display in an interview with incredulous Canadian TV host Avi Lewis.
"Islam means submission to the will of Allah, a doctrine that requires from the individual to become a slave," Ali told Lewis.
Islam, she said, "keeps people backward" by limiting their imaginations to what can be found in the Quran and the example of Muhammad.
Lewis retorted: "Surely there are many versions of Islam, like there are may versions of Christianity or Judaism, of all major religions. You are presenting it as one thing, and it's just obviously not."
Ali replied: "Islam, as a faith, as a doctrine, defined by what's in the Quran and the example of the prophet Muhammad – unreformed, unchallenged – is a monolith.
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