This posting was related to a special nrc.nl/international published in March and will no longer be moderated.

On Thursday 27th of March ‘Fitna the Movie’ was released by Geert Wilders, the right-wing populist politician who leads the anti-Islam and anti-immigration party PVV in Dutch parliament. The 17-minute long film shows images of the 9/11 assaults on the World Trade Centre in New York, London and Madrid. They are mixed with quotes by imams condemning infidels and calling for punishment of those who have betrayed Islam and the prophet. Several times the film also shows the famous Danish Mohammed cartoon with the bomb in the turban of the prophet.

Since the announcement of the movie in November it has stirred political turmoil in the Netherlands and protests in Islamic countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. Muslims around the world objected to, in their view, the misuse of the holy Koran, and burned Dutch flags on several occasions, bringing to mind the retaliations against the publication of cartoons portraying the prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers in 2005. This prompted NATO Secretary General, and Dutchman, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to express his concern that broadcasting the film could have an “impact” on the Dutch troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile the Dutch government has repeatedly warned against possible damage to its commercial interests and the potential danger to its citizens abroad and called on Wilders to accept responsibility and cancel his plans to screen the film.

What is your view after watching the film itself? Has Wilders made an honest attempt to show ,,the intolerant and fascist nature of the Koran?” as he proclaimed earlier? Or do you see the film as pure propaganda, designed to further the political ends of his anti-Islamic crusade, causing deep divisions within society in the Netherlands, Europe and the world. And what, if any, do you believe its long term impact will be?

Please post your comments on the movie by clicking the line below.