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AMSTERDAM (IHT) March 23, 2008 – The Web site on which the Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders was promoting his film, which is said to be critical of the Koran, has been suspended by its U.S. hosting service.
The site formerly showed the film’s title, “Fitna” (“Coming Soon”), and an image of a gilded Koran. Now it shows a note that the U.S. company, Network Solutions, is investigating whether the site violates its terms of service.
“Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation,” the note said.
The company could not immediately be reached for comment. Its terms of service contain a sweeping prohibition against “objectionable material of any kind or nature.”
While the exact contents of the 15-minute movie, due to be released by March 31, are unknown, Wilders has said it will underscore his view that Islam’s holy book is “fascist.”
The statements of right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders are on the same level as anti-Semitism. That’s the thrust of a full-page advertisement that Dutch-Jewish television producer Harry de Winter placed on the front page of Monday’s edtion of newspaper de Volkskrant. Dutch Muslims have reacted with surprise.
The text of the advertisement, which has also been signed by two Dutch Jewish organisations, reads:
“If Geert Wilders had said the same things about Jews (and the Old Testament) as he has now reeled off about Muslims (and the Qur’an), then he would have been ostracised a long time ago and accused of anti-Semitism.”
Critical of Israeli policy
Television producer Harry de Winter is one of the founders of Een ander Joods geluid (‘Another Jewish Voice’), a group of Dutch Jews who are critical of the policy of Israel towards the Palestinians. The climate that is being shaped by Mr Wilders is, according to him, comparable with the rise of anti-Semitism in the 1930s. Mr De Winter believes there has been far too little reaction to Mr Wilders in the Netherlands. But especially he believes that a reaction must come from the Jewish corner. As he says in de Volkskrant:
“We Jews know like no others what this sort of discrimination can lead to.”
“Absurd”
Amongst other things, Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Freedom Party, has called the Qur’an “a fascist book” and a “licence to kill.” Mr De Winter finds such statements absurd.
“It’s incomprehensible that Mr Wilders keeps on coming out with such rubbish. If you read the Old Testament [the Jewish Torah] then you also find texts about hatred of homosexuals, hatred of women and murdering of non-Jews.”
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
