theCops
March 7th, 2008, 05:21 PM
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iqCfEcLca13c5kuTMHRpO_68mftQ
THE HAGUE (AFP) — The international uproar about the planned release of an anti-Islam film by a Dutch far-right MP prompted the Netherlands to raise its terrorism alert level on Thursday.
"While there are no concrete indications of impending attacks in the Netherlands, the increased international terrorism threat has prompted to raise the threat level for the Netherlands from 'limited' to 'substantial'," the justice ministry said.
One of the main reasons for the raising of the alert level is the plan by far right deputy Geert Wilders to air his short movie -- which he says attacks the Koran as a "fascist book" -- in March.
"Compounding the threat is the fact that the Netherlands has been cast in a negative light in the Islamic world due to the tone of the debate on Islam in this country, especially since the announcement of a controversial film on the Koran," the ministry explained.
The international media attention for Wilders movie "has led to the posting of death threats against the Freedom Party leader on one of the leading international jihadist web forums", according to the national anti-terrorism coordinator NCTb.
The Wilders film has caused uproar in Muslim countries, some of whom have called for an economic boycott of the Netherlands if the film is shown. Iran, Egypt and Pakistan all voiced criticism about the film.
In Afghanistan hundreds of protesters took to the streets Wednesday to protest the film, whilst the Taliban has already vowed revenge against the 1,600 Dutch soldiers stationed in the country if the movie is shown.
The Dutch government has twice tried and failed to convince Wilders not to broadcast his film, fearing a repeat of the worldwide protests which met the publication of satirical Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.
It has already warned its embassies in Muslim countries to be on the alert.
On Wednesday Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen met with ambassadors from 30 Muslims countries at the request of the Organisation for the Islamic Conference (OIC) to explain The Hague's stance about the film.
The Dutch government says it supports Wilders right to freedom of expression but stressed that does not mean The Hague shares his opinions.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said last Friday that the government has tried to show Wilders "the possible consequences of his actions".
"Already we have to consider there are serious risks for Dutch nationals and Dutch businesses in several countries. It is our duty to point this out to Mr. Wilders," Balkenende said.
But Wilders, whose Freedom Party holds 9 of the 150 parliamentary seats, has said repeatedly he will not bow to pressure.
The deputy is still trying to find a broadcaster to air his film but De Volkskrant newspaper reported Thursday that no Dutch television station had agreed to air it.
It is likely that Wilders will present the film at a press conference and on the Internet on the website www.fitnathemovie.com which he has already reserved. It is due to be aired before the end of this month
The film, which lasts around 15 minutes, is called "Fitna", which in Arabic means war, or division, in the heart of Islam.
The film has yet to be shown to the public, but a Dutch newspaper which has seen excerpts said it showed Koranic texts with video footage of beheadings.
The UN and NATO have both expressed concerns about the film while the European Commission has warned its overseas offices of the risk of protests related to Wilders' movie.
Ok, obviously this is one extremist being extreme, and I doubt anyone thinks all muslims are inevitably as extreme/uncompromising in their views as this film might want you to think.
Should there be free speech in this form? Is free speech being abused? Is a limit a bad idea at this point, particularly whether or not to allow hate speech from either side of this, which is likely to shape up to be a disaster (think Muhammad cartoon and the destruction as a result of it). Is it just to ban free speech in this form? Should action be taken against those who provoke by offending, and/or those who are "reacting" to being offended?
I'm of the opinion that banning hate speech is to allow someone to decide for you what's hateful and what isn't, being the government or some other sub-section of the community.
That seems wrong to me, as the most likely individual to decide what's hateful and what isn't is no one but the individual. Not only that, I doubt some law of western liberal democracy is going to be much of a deterrent to the most committed Islamic fundamentalist.
THE HAGUE (AFP) — The international uproar about the planned release of an anti-Islam film by a Dutch far-right MP prompted the Netherlands to raise its terrorism alert level on Thursday.
"While there are no concrete indications of impending attacks in the Netherlands, the increased international terrorism threat has prompted to raise the threat level for the Netherlands from 'limited' to 'substantial'," the justice ministry said.
One of the main reasons for the raising of the alert level is the plan by far right deputy Geert Wilders to air his short movie -- which he says attacks the Koran as a "fascist book" -- in March.
"Compounding the threat is the fact that the Netherlands has been cast in a negative light in the Islamic world due to the tone of the debate on Islam in this country, especially since the announcement of a controversial film on the Koran," the ministry explained.
The international media attention for Wilders movie "has led to the posting of death threats against the Freedom Party leader on one of the leading international jihadist web forums", according to the national anti-terrorism coordinator NCTb.
The Wilders film has caused uproar in Muslim countries, some of whom have called for an economic boycott of the Netherlands if the film is shown. Iran, Egypt and Pakistan all voiced criticism about the film.
In Afghanistan hundreds of protesters took to the streets Wednesday to protest the film, whilst the Taliban has already vowed revenge against the 1,600 Dutch soldiers stationed in the country if the movie is shown.
The Dutch government has twice tried and failed to convince Wilders not to broadcast his film, fearing a repeat of the worldwide protests which met the publication of satirical Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.
It has already warned its embassies in Muslim countries to be on the alert.
On Wednesday Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen met with ambassadors from 30 Muslims countries at the request of the Organisation for the Islamic Conference (OIC) to explain The Hague's stance about the film.
The Dutch government says it supports Wilders right to freedom of expression but stressed that does not mean The Hague shares his opinions.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said last Friday that the government has tried to show Wilders "the possible consequences of his actions".
"Already we have to consider there are serious risks for Dutch nationals and Dutch businesses in several countries. It is our duty to point this out to Mr. Wilders," Balkenende said.
But Wilders, whose Freedom Party holds 9 of the 150 parliamentary seats, has said repeatedly he will not bow to pressure.
The deputy is still trying to find a broadcaster to air his film but De Volkskrant newspaper reported Thursday that no Dutch television station had agreed to air it.
It is likely that Wilders will present the film at a press conference and on the Internet on the website www.fitnathemovie.com which he has already reserved. It is due to be aired before the end of this month
The film, which lasts around 15 minutes, is called "Fitna", which in Arabic means war, or division, in the heart of Islam.
The film has yet to be shown to the public, but a Dutch newspaper which has seen excerpts said it showed Koranic texts with video footage of beheadings.
The UN and NATO have both expressed concerns about the film while the European Commission has warned its overseas offices of the risk of protests related to Wilders' movie.
Ok, obviously this is one extremist being extreme, and I doubt anyone thinks all muslims are inevitably as extreme/uncompromising in their views as this film might want you to think.
Should there be free speech in this form? Is free speech being abused? Is a limit a bad idea at this point, particularly whether or not to allow hate speech from either side of this, which is likely to shape up to be a disaster (think Muhammad cartoon and the destruction as a result of it). Is it just to ban free speech in this form? Should action be taken against those who provoke by offending, and/or those who are "reacting" to being offended?
I'm of the opinion that banning hate speech is to allow someone to decide for you what's hateful and what isn't, being the government or some other sub-section of the community.
That seems wrong to me, as the most likely individual to decide what's hateful and what isn't is no one but the individual. Not only that, I doubt some law of western liberal democracy is going to be much of a deterrent to the most committed Islamic fundamentalist.