Abstract
This chapter consists of an analysis of H Gerrt Wilders’ controversial anti-“Islamisation” film Fitna, and of the polemics that both preceded and followed its release. To do justice to this debate, both Wilders’ criticism of Islam and the response it generated will be described, contextualised and assessed. In addition, the chapter will present a more broad discussion about the important role played by new information and communication technologies in the discourse on Muslims in Europe, with both detractors and defenders of Islam increasingly turning from the older print medias to the high-speed, and sometimes volatile, discussion-climate of the Internet.
The research for this paper was kindly funded by The Linnaeus Centre for Research on Learning, Interaction and Mediated Communication in Contemporary Society (LinCS), University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Notes
- 1.
This information is taken from the http://www.parties-and-elections.de/netherlands.html (printed 2009-10-12). General information about the party is also posted on its homepage (http://pvv.nl/) as well as in Wikipedia, see ‘Party for Freedom’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_for_Freedom (printed 2009-10-12).
- 2.
For the election in 2010, see, for example The European election database, http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/netherlands/parties.html
- 3.
For a more detailed presentation of Geert Wilders’ political views, see his manifesto ‘Klare Wijn’ (published on the PVV homepage on March 31, 2006, retrieved from http://www.pvv.nl/index.php?option=com_deeppockets&task=contShow&id=362&Itemid=22 (printed 2009-10-23)).
- 4.
Wilder, Geert (2007) ‘Genoeg is genoeg: verbied de Koran’, De Volkskrant, 2007-01-27, retrieved from http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article451338.ece/Genoeg_is_genoeg_verbied_de_Koran (printed 2009-10-22).
- 5.
This text is published on the PVV homepage, see ‘Mr Wilders contribution to the parliamentary debate on Islamic activism’, retrieved from http://www.groepwilders.com/website/details.aspx?ID=44 (printed 2009-10-23).
- 6.
See, for example, “Mr. Wilders Contribution to the Parliamentary Debate on Islamic Activism”, retrieved from http://www.groepwilders.com/website/details.aspx?ID=44 (printed 2009-10-23).
- 7.
See, for example, ‘Mr Wilders contribution to the parliamentary debate on Islamic activism’, retrieved from http://www.groepwilders.com/website/details.aspx?ID=44 (printed 2009-10-23).
- 8.
The free online encyclopedia Wikipedia provides a number of excellent entries regarding Fitna, the reaction it received and Geert Wilders himself. See, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitna_(film) (printed 2009-10-13).
- 9.
This quotation is taken from a 2008 FOX News interview with Geert Wilders, uploaded on January 25th on YouTube under the heading, “Geert Wilders Speaks: Anti-Koran Film ‘Fitna’ (Part 1 of 2)”, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0jUuzdfqfc (last accessed on September 27, 2011).
- 10.
This quotation is taken from a FOX News interview with Geert Wilders, uploaded on YouTube on January 25, 2008 under the heading, “Geert Wilders Speaks: Anti-Koran Film ‘Fitna’ (Part 1 of 2)”, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0jUuzdfqfc (last accessed on September 27, 2011).
- 11.
This quotation is taken from a Russia Today interview with Geert Wilders, uploaded on YouTube on March 7, 2010 under the heading, “Geert Wilders Speaks Out on His Radical Views”, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GanFV4b1wvk (last accessed on September 27, 2011).
- 12.
The free online encyclopedia Wikipedia provides a number of excellent entries on the movie Fitna, the reaction it received and Geert Wilders himself. See, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitna_(film) (printed 2009-10-13).
- 13.
‘Film Wilders niet in Niewspoort’, DePers.nl, dinsdag 11 maart 2008 (retrieved from http://www.depers.nl/binnenland/180969/Film-Wilders-niet-in-Nieuwspoort.html, printed 2009-10-13).
- 14.
‘Dutch TV stations refuse anti-Muslim film’, The Washington Times, Friday, March 7, 2008 (retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/mar/07/dutch-tv-stations-refuse-anti-muslim-film/, printed 2009-10-13).
- 15.
Karadarevic, Ana (2008) ‘Moslimomroep kandidaat voor Fitna’, DePers.nl, Zaterdag 22 maart 2008 (retrieved from http://www.depers.nl/binnenland/184963/Moslimomroep-wil-Fitna-uitzenden.html, printed 2009-10-13).
- 16.
This quotation is taken from a 2008 FOX News interview with Geert Wilders, uploaded on January 25th on YouTube under the heading, “Geert Wilders Speaks: Anti-Koran Film ‘Fitna’ (Part 1 of 2)”, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0jUuzdfqfc (last accessed on September 27, 2011).
- 17.
This quotation is taken from a 2009 CNN interview with Geert Wilders, uploaded on YouTube on February 26, 2009 under the heading, “Geert Wilders Interview on CNN about FITNA (HD QUALITY) & Freedom of Speech”, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lMkwH9ODCU&hl=sv (last accessed on September 27, 2011). Wilders also voiced this view in a March 31, 2008 Spiegel Online International interview with Gerald Traufetter entitled, “SPIEGEL Interview with Dutch Populist Geert Wilders” (printed), see http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,544347,00.html (last accessed on September 27, 2011).
- 18.
This quotation is taken from a 2008 FOX News interview with Geert Wilders, uploaded on YouTube on January 24, 2008 under the heading, “Geert Wilders Speaks: Muslims & Tolerance (Part 2 of 2)”, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W6twYw4E8w (last accessed on September 27, 2011).
- 19.
‘Dutch Raise Terror Threat Level After Film Stokes Muslim Hostility’, Deutsche Welle 07.03.2008 (retrieved from http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3175532,00.html, printed 2009-10-19).
- 20.
Dikkman, Anna and Marike Stellinga (2008) ‘Wilders: Premier is beroepslafaard’, Elsevier.nl, Zaterdag 23 februari (retrieved from http://www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Laatste-24-uur/159395/Wilders-Premier-is-beroepslafaard.htm, printed 2009-10-19).
- 21.
‘Pakistan blocks YouTube website’, BBC News, Sunday, 24 February 2008 (retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7261727.stm, printed 2009-10-19).
- 22.
‘Al Qaeda Fatwa against MP Wilders’, retrieved from http://www.nisnews.nl/public/280208_5.htm (printed 2009-10-26).
- 23.
‘First Reactions to Dutch Anti-Quran Film Are Muted’, FoxNews.com, Thursday , March 27, 2008 (retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,342470,00.html, printed 2009-10-19).
- 24.
‘Government’s Reaction to Wilders’ Film’, retrieved from http://www.minaz.nl/english/News/Press_releases_and_news_items/2008/Maart/Government_s_reaction_to_Wilders_film (printed 2009-10-19).
- 25.
On the political debate that followed in the Netherlands after the release of the film, see, for example, ‘Fel Kamerdebat over film Wilders’, Niews.nl, Dinsdag 01 april 2008; retrieved from http://www.nieuws.nl/505080 (printed 2009-10-21). See also ‘Het Centraal Joods Overleg, platform van Joodse organisaties in Nederland, heeft met verontrusting kennis genomen van de inhoud van Fitna, de film van Geert Wilders’, issued by the Central Jewish Committee on 28 March 2008; retrieved from http://www.cjo.nl/ (printed 2009-10-21).
- 26.
For a general overview of the international conflicts and protests that followed the release of Fitna see, ‘International Reactions to Fitna’; retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_reaction_to_Fitna (printed 2009-10-21).
- 27.
See ‘Fitna Movie: Releasing Hatred & Testing Wisdom’, retrieved from http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1203758483235&pagename=Zone-English-Euro_Muslims%2FEMELayout.
- 28.
‘Statement by the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe, regarding the film by the leader of the Dutch Freedom party aimed at defaming the Noble Quran’, retrieved from http://www.euro-muslim.com/ (printed 2010-10-18).
- 29.
Devre, Gulsen (without year) ‘A Counter Movie Against Wilders”, retrieved from http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1203758395455&pagename=Zone-English-Euro_Muslims%2FEMELayout (printed 2009-10-23). More information about this movie can also be found on http://tegenfilm.hyves.nl/address/ and at this site it is also possible to watch the movie in Dutch.
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Larsson, G. (2013). Geert Wilders and the Anti-Muslim Movie Fitna. In: Hoffmann, T., Larsson, G. (eds) Muslims and the New Information and Communication Technologies. Muslims in Global Societies Series, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7247-2_9
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