Difference between revisions of "Fitna"

From Powerbase
Jump to: navigation, search
(New page: '''''Fitna''''' is a 2008 short film by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders. Approximately 17 minutes in length, the film shows selected excerpts from Suras of the Qur'an, interspers...)
 
(Production)
Line 7: Line 7:
  
 
The Friends of the [[Party for Freedom]] (or PVV) foundation commissioned the film. It contracted a production company credited in the film as "Scarlet Pimpernel Productions", a pseudonym adopted allegedly out of fear of reprisal.<ref>[http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article524165.ece/Rapper_wil_25.000_euro_van_Wilders Rapper wil 25.000 euro van Wilders] [[de Volkskrant]] date=2008-04-07 accessdate=2008-04-08 [[Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau]]</ref>
 
The Friends of the [[Party for Freedom]] (or PVV) foundation commissioned the film. It contracted a production company credited in the film as "Scarlet Pimpernel Productions", a pseudonym adopted allegedly out of fear of reprisal.<ref>[http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article524165.ece/Rapper_wil_25.000_euro_van_Wilders Rapper wil 25.000 euro van Wilders] [[de Volkskrant]] date=2008-04-07 accessdate=2008-04-08 [[Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau]]</ref>
 +
==Release==
 +
 +
The film was initally released on the London-based website Liveleak.com. It was removed a day later in response to threats to the company's staff, by which time it had already been posted to Google and Youtube. The initial reaction in the Netherlands was restrained, but the film prompted protests in Pakistan.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/28/fitna.reaction/#cnnSTCText Film critical of Islam dropped from Web site], CNN.com, 28 March 2008.</ref>
 +
::"My intention was not to offend in any way but to show the truth -- at least, the truth as I see it," Wilders said. "And if the truth hurts and could be offensive, well, this of course is not my problem." <ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/28/fitna.reaction/#cnnSTCText Film critical of Islam dropped from Web site], CNN.com, 28 March 2008.</ref>
  
 
===Ruder Finn distributing the film===
 
===Ruder Finn distributing the film===
Line 13: Line 17:
 
During February 2009, Geert Wilders visited (or planned to visit) several European capitals to present the Fitna. He was barred from entering the UK, but his film was nonetheless shown in the House of Lords. Wilders also presented Fitna in Rome (13 Feb 2009). The press releases to promote the showing in both cases was done by Ruder Finn.<ref>This is an announcement for the Rome event. [http://www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=4576 announcement] (13 Feb 2009) NB: After the event the registration details were removed. The orignal can still be seen in the google cache.</ref>  
 
During February 2009, Geert Wilders visited (or planned to visit) several European capitals to present the Fitna. He was barred from entering the UK, but his film was nonetheless shown in the House of Lords. Wilders also presented Fitna in Rome (13 Feb 2009). The press releases to promote the showing in both cases was done by Ruder Finn.<ref>This is an announcement for the Rome event. [http://www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=4576 announcement] (13 Feb 2009) NB: After the event the registration details were removed. The orignal can still be seen in the google cache.</ref>  
  
On 12 February 2009, Wilders was denied entry to the [[United Kingdom]] after being invited by the [[Malcolm Pearson|Lord Pearson]] of the [[UKIP]] and [[Caroline Cox]] ([[Conservative Party]]) to show his film in the [[House of Lords]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7885918.stm Dutch MP refused entry to Britain] [[BBC News]] d2009-02-12, accessdate=2009-02-12</ref>  
+
On 12 February 2009, Wilders was denied entry to the [[United Kingdom]] after being invited by the [[Malcolm Pearson|Lord Pearson]] of the [[UKIP]] and [[Caroline Cox]] ([[Conservative Party]]) to show his film in the [[House of Lords]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7885918.stm Dutch MP refused entry to Britain] [[BBC News]] d2009-02-12, accessdate=2009-02-12</ref>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 12:52, 19 March 2009

Fitna is a 2008 short film by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders. Approximately 17 minutes in length, the film shows selected excerpts from Suras of the Qur'an, interspersed with media extracts and newspaper clippings showing or describing acts of violence and/or hatred by Muslims. The film wishes to demonstrate that the Qur'an, and Islamic culture in general, motivates its followers to hate all who violate the Islamic teachings. Consequently, the film argues, Islam encourages, among others, acts of terrorism, antisemitism, violence against women, and Islamic universalism. The film has been accused of encouraging hatred against Muslims or Islamophobia.

Wilders, a prominent right wing critic of Islam, described the film as "a call to shake off the creeping tyranny of Islamization".[1]

Production

The Friends of the Party for Freedom (or PVV) foundation commissioned the film. It contracted a production company credited in the film as "Scarlet Pimpernel Productions", a pseudonym adopted allegedly out of fear of reprisal.[2]

Release

The film was initally released on the London-based website Liveleak.com. It was removed a day later in response to threats to the company's staff, by which time it had already been posted to Google and Youtube. The initial reaction in the Netherlands was restrained, but the film prompted protests in Pakistan.[3]

"My intention was not to offend in any way but to show the truth -- at least, the truth as I see it," Wilders said. "And if the truth hurts and could be offensive, well, this of course is not my problem." [4]

Ruder Finn distributing the film

On 14 December 2008, a conference entitled "Facing Jihad" was organized at the Begin Center in Jerusalem. Those present included Geert Wilders, Arieh Eldad, Robert Spencer,Itamar Marcus, Daniel Pipes, Shlomo Sharan and John David Lewis. During the conference the film Fitna was shown, it was distributed to all conference participants, and it was announced that the film would be shown in several European parliaments. The Ruder Finn PR company organized the conference and set up the group's website,[5] and are also actively distributing the film. Ruder Finn has been distributing the film for free.

During February 2009, Geert Wilders visited (or planned to visit) several European capitals to present the Fitna. He was barred from entering the UK, but his film was nonetheless shown in the House of Lords. Wilders also presented Fitna in Rome (13 Feb 2009). The press releases to promote the showing in both cases was done by Ruder Finn.[6]

On 12 February 2009, Wilders was denied entry to the United Kingdom after being invited by the Lord Pearson of the UKIP and Caroline Cox (Conservative Party) to show his film in the House of Lords.[7]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. Iran Warns Netherlands Not to Air Controversial 'Anti-Muslim' Film FOX News Michael Park date=2008-01-21 accessdate=2008-03-08
  2. Rapper wil 25.000 euro van Wilders de Volkskrant date=2008-04-07 accessdate=2008-04-08 Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau
  3. Film critical of Islam dropped from Web site, CNN.com, 28 March 2008.
  4. Film critical of Islam dropped from Web site, CNN.com, 28 March 2008.
  5. client list
  6. This is an announcement for the Rome event. announcement (13 Feb 2009) NB: After the event the registration details were removed. The orignal can still be seen in the google cache.
  7. Dutch MP refused entry to Britain BBC News d2009-02-12, accessdate=2009-02-12