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Muslim leaders demand legal action against Wilders
Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 04/08/2008 11:55 AM | National
PEACEFUL DIALOGUE: Netherlands Ambassador to Indonesia Nicolas Van Dam (center) chats with People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid (left) and Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsudin after a dialogue on film Fitna, in Jakarta on Monday. The movie has received strong opposition in Indonesia. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
Indonesian Muslim leaders and foreign envoys have demanded the Netherlands take legal action against politician Geert Wilders for producing and distributing the anti-Islam film Fitna.
In a meeting with Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Nikolaos van Dam, held at Muhammadiyah headquarters Monday, the protesters said his government's statement condemning the film was not enough to dampen the anger of Muslim countries over the movie.
"The Dutch government must criminalize Wilders' conduct. Freedom of expression has a limit," People's Consultative Assembly chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid told the gathering.
He said Wilders could not hide behind the doctrine of freedom of expression, and insulting Muslims and causing unrest among them in the Netherlands and other countries were sufficient reasons for the Dutch government to prosecute Wilders.
"We are still waiting to see what punishment the Dutch government will give Wilders, because the film has clearly insulted and disgraced Islam," Indonesian Ulema Council deputy chairman Amidan said.
Also in attendance were foreign ambassadors Mohamed E. Taha of Egypt, Aydin Evirgen of Turkey and Abdulrahman Mohammed Amen Al-Khayyat of Saudi Arabia, and several diplomats from other Muslim countries.
Taha supported the argument there was no such a thing as "absolute freedom of expression" whereby people could freely insult others.
He urged the Dutch government to be tough on Wilders.
Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said he hoped van Dam would convey the Muslim leaders' messages to his government.
"Such a film encourages the clash of civilizations between Islam and the West," he said.
While expressing his government's regret over the release of the film, van Dam said Dutch prosecutors were looking into the case for ways to hold Wilders responsible and bring him to justice.
"We have no censorship in the Netherlands. That's why we can't ban the film. But we agree the freedom of expression has limits insofar as not hurting others' feelings," he told the Muslim leaders.
All the Muslim leaders and envoys agreed the Dutch government must find a way to prevent similar films and other forms of expression from being released to the public.
"This is not the first film (to hurt Muslims), so the Dutch government must have regulations to prevent similar movies from circulating," said Hamamah from Aisyiah, the women's arm of Muhammadiyah.
Wilders posted his documentary on the Internet last week. In the film, he equated Islam with violence by presenting verses from the Koran that appear to call for the use of violence and running them alongside video clips of the 9/11 attacks.
The film has provoked a strong reaction from Muslims in Indonesia. About 40 students attacked the Dutch consulate in Medan, North Sumatra, during a protest against the film.
Some Muslim leaders warned the Monday meeting violence could continue if the Dutch government failed to punish Wilders appropriately.
Indonesian film director Hanung Bramantyo, who was present at the gathering, urged Muslims not to allow themselves to be provoked to avoid appearing as ugly as the film itself.
"It's garbage. Let's just ignore it," he said. "Islam is too great to be hurt by such a low-quality film."
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The Reader (not verified) — Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:19pm
Here we go again, the self rigtheous moslem leaders demand ridiculous thing to the person who tries to reveal the violent verses of their holy book and ask them to revisit and do something about it.
These moslem leaders don't do anything when their followers forcefully and violently close down churches and beat Ahmadiyah followers to death but demand punishment to people who critize their religion. What a SICK mentality !!!
The Reader (not verified) — Wed, 04/09/2008 - 10:53am
Firstly it is not a film. It is mostly just a 15 minute collage of news clips stitched together with verses from the Koran.
It's actually rather boring.
Have any of these critics even seen it?
If free speech does not include the right to offend others then it is pointless. We should not intend to insult but it is often unavoidable in any discussion of religion and even politics.
Do not forget that under those terms of free speech you cannot speak out against homosexuals, adulterers,or ANY religious groups which would mean that many fatwas would have to be banned as they offend certain groups around the world. This, of course would include Ahmadiyah who were surely insulted and offended by the criticism of their beliefs.
You cannot deny the right of others to criticize you unless you also give up the right to criticize others.
It sometimes seems that many Muslims believe that Islam has a special place above the rights of others and this, in my opinion, is a good example of that.
Wim Bruneel (not verified) — Wed, 04/09/2008 - 5:26am
Why react all those important Muslim leaders like little childeren?
They have to learn the difference between opinion and fact. Everyone in the world has the right to express his opinion, and if you don't like someone's opinion just don't care about it! And don't make so much trouble about it.
This muslims leaders are still living in the middle ages, this is dangerous! Islam needs a revolution, it must be possible to criticize Islam, otherwise you will end up with a fascist regime!
I don't like the movie of Wilders, but I think it must be possilbe to make such movies. So a discussion can start about the bad image Islam has these days and how this image can change into a better one.
Abdul (not verified) — Tue, 04/08/2008 - 9:18pm
The film might gives a wrong impression about the Islam, but still the one who is talking is not Mr. Wilders but are well-known Islamic figures in the movie.
It is better to aim the protest to them rather to the one who makes notice of it.
Beside of that, all pictures are to find easily on many other web sites and news archives.
People who felt insulted by seeing this movie better not to watch.
Why not blocking the Islamite leaders in Indonesia whose preach hatred ? They do more harm to Indonesia and the inter-religion dialog than this simple movie.
Why do Muslims so over reacting when they are criticized but keep silent when churches in their neither hood were closed or burned down (throughout Indonesia) by people who saying acting in the name of their faith ? If children were killed (as in Poso) and bombs were laid and hundreds were killed (Bali) in the name of their religion ?
Where were the protestors at that time ?
Erwin (not verified) — Tue, 04/08/2008 - 8:37pm
Unfortunately there are no possibilities to take away someone's freedom of speech.
What can be done however is try to reason with this person or group of people and show them their mistake. Another thing that can be done is to just ignore it.
But do not allow to be provoked, for this is exactly what they want. Stay reasonable, and show in this way you are right and they are wrong.
Maximus (not verified) — Tue, 04/08/2008 - 6:49pm
Of course, Islamic leaders can threaten and insult the West, Christians, Jews and other religions, even the UN with impunity and without having to apologize for anything. Which underlines Wilders' statement that Islam is a fascist ideology.