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Protected: Trouw, deVerdieping, Sharia: juridisch wespennest

Posted on February 13th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues.

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Islam in the Netherlands | Wild thing | Economist.com

Posted on February 11th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News.

Islam in the Netherlands | Wild thing | Economist.com
Wild thing

The Netherlands frets about the likely impact of a new anti-Islam film

AFP Wilders ponders the Koran

THE Netherlands is going through a “considerable crisis”, says the prime minister. The Iranians are musing publicly about cutting diplomatic ties. The grand mufti of Syria has issued grave warnings of war and bloodshed. Dutch citizens living in Muslim countries have been asked to report any worrying incidents.

The one thing missing is the cause of the fuss: an anti-Islamic film neither made nor shown by a Dutch member of parliament, Geert Wilders. In November Mr Wilders revealed his plan to air on television an exposé of the wickedness of the Koran, which he calls an Islamic “Mein Kampf”. The film is said to include shots of him desecrating the Koran. Dutch state television appears reluctant to show it, so Mr Wilders now talks of a private broadcaster, or using the internet. But the mere talk of his film has been enough to ignite a renewed debate about Islam in Europe and the limits on free speech.

The Dutch have reason to worry. Two years ago the publication of Muhammad cartoons in a Danish newspaper triggered anti-Danish riots around the Muslim world. Two years before that a film about Islam, “Submission”, was shown on Dutch television; soon afterwards its director, Theo van Gogh, was butchered in an Amsterdam street by a radical Dutch Islamist, who also threatened the screenplay writer, Ayaan Hirsi Ali (now living in America). Mr Wilders’s film could, some fear, have similarly violent consequences.

Mr Wilders’s anti-immigrant party has nine seats in parliament, too few to affect the government’s fairly tolerant policy towards the country’s Muslim minority. But he has jabbed his finger into several sore spots. He has publicly questioned the loyalty of two cabinet members with dual nationality (ie, Turkish and Moroccan as well as Dutch). He called a third minister “barking mad” because of her liberal integration policies. And he has demanded a ban on immigration from Muslim countries.

Mr Wilders might seem just a provocateur. But his power lies in the rhetoric that he uses to contrast such liberal notions as gay rights and female emancipation with the image of an intolerant and anti-modern Islam, says Paul Schnabel, head of a Dutch government social-science institute. Polls show that the Dutch rate freedom of speech as one of their most important values—and many see Mr Wilders as its champion. He is a “modern conservative”, argues Mr Schnabel, able convincingly to demand of immigrants that they should show full loyalty to Dutch values.

As important as Mr Wilders’s political talent is the absence of powerful countervailing voices speaking up for inclusiveness, pluralism and a more respectful public debate. Many Muslim immigrants suffer from relative poverty, from high levels of crime and from social segregation. The government focuses on policies to improve the education of second-generation Muslims, get more of them to work and find ways to reduce crime. The justice minister, Ernst Hirsch Ballin, insists that such measures offer the best hope of improving the sour relationship between Muslims and native Dutch folk. But the technospeak often used to describe them hardly matches the fiery one-liners launched from the right.

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Islam in the Netherlands | Wild thing | Economist.com

Posted on February 11th, 2008 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

Islam in the Netherlands | Wild thing | Economist.com
Wild thing

The Netherlands frets about the likely impact of a new anti-Islam film

AFP Wilders ponders the Koran

THE Netherlands is going through a “considerable crisis”, says the prime minister. The Iranians are musing publicly about cutting diplomatic ties. The grand mufti of Syria has issued grave warnings of war and bloodshed. Dutch citizens living in Muslim countries have been asked to report any worrying incidents.

The one thing missing is the cause of the fuss: an anti-Islamic film neither made nor shown by a Dutch member of parliament, Geert Wilders. In November Mr Wilders revealed his plan to air on television an exposé of the wickedness of the Koran, which he calls an Islamic “Mein Kampf”. The film is said to include shots of him desecrating the Koran. Dutch state television appears reluctant to show it, so Mr Wilders now talks of a private broadcaster, or using the internet. But the mere talk of his film has been enough to ignite a renewed debate about Islam in Europe and the limits on free speech.

The Dutch have reason to worry. Two years ago the publication of Muhammad cartoons in a Danish newspaper triggered anti-Danish riots around the Muslim world. Two years before that a film about Islam, “Submission”, was shown on Dutch television; soon afterwards its director, Theo van Gogh, was butchered in an Amsterdam street by a radical Dutch Islamist, who also threatened the screenplay writer, Ayaan Hirsi Ali (now living in America). Mr Wilders’s film could, some fear, have similarly violent consequences.

Mr Wilders’s anti-immigrant party has nine seats in parliament, too few to affect the government’s fairly tolerant policy towards the country’s Muslim minority. But he has jabbed his finger into several sore spots. He has publicly questioned the loyalty of two cabinet members with dual nationality (ie, Turkish and Moroccan as well as Dutch). He called a third minister “barking mad” because of her liberal integration policies. And he has demanded a ban on immigration from Muslim countries.

Mr Wilders might seem just a provocateur. But his power lies in the rhetoric that he uses to contrast such liberal notions as gay rights and female emancipation with the image of an intolerant and anti-modern Islam, says Paul Schnabel, head of a Dutch government social-science institute. Polls show that the Dutch rate freedom of speech as one of their most important values—and many see Mr Wilders as its champion. He is a “modern conservative”, argues Mr Schnabel, able convincingly to demand of immigrants that they should show full loyalty to Dutch values.

As important as Mr Wilders’s political talent is the absence of powerful countervailing voices speaking up for inclusiveness, pluralism and a more respectful public debate. Many Muslim immigrants suffer from relative poverty, from high levels of crime and from social segregation. The government focuses on policies to improve the education of second-generation Muslims, get more of them to work and find ways to reduce crime. The justice minister, Ernst Hirsch Ballin, insists that such measures offer the best hope of improving the sour relationship between Muslims and native Dutch folk. But the technospeak often used to describe them hardly matches the fiery one-liners launched from the right.

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Protected: AD.nl – Rotterdam Stad – ‘Moslimavriendelijk’ naar de kapper

Posted on February 11th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues.

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Wilders discloses more information about film – Expatica

Posted on February 11th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News, Public Islam.

Wilders discloses more information about film – Expatica
Freedom Party PVV faction leader Geert Wilders has disclosed more information out about his controversial anti-Islam film.

11 February 2008

AMSTERDAM – Freedom Party PVV faction leader Geert Wilders has disclosed more information out about his controversial anti-Islam film, the Volkskrant reports. The film will be titled Fitna Arabic for ‘trial, ordeal, it will be 15 minutes long, and end with a print of the prophet Mohammed. “Something happens with the print, but I dont want to say what,” Wilders said in an interview with the GPD Associated Press Services.

In the interview Wilders says he wanted to take the films title from the Koran. He says that ‘fitna refers to situations in which the faith of Muslims is tested. He uses the term ‘reflectively. Wilders: ‘Islam and the Koran are my ordeal. For me the corrupting Islam is fitna.”

Wilders reiterated that the film will be released in March. It is still not clear where it will be broadcast. He says he is still in talks with Dutch channels.

The governments attitude, which has put the Dutch embassies and police forces on edge, and the commotion that has arisen in the Islamic world in advance of the film have already proved his view right, Wilders says. In an opinion piece in the Volkskrant he reported that the panicked reactions demonstrate that Islam is “an intolerant ideology.”

Since his point has been proven, the film does not even have to be made. But it will be, Wilders told the Telegraaf in late January. In the GPD interview he explains that he will illustrate excerpts and verses from the Koran with documentary footage. In doing so he wants to demonstrate that the Koran “is not a dead letter, but the face of Islam: a life-sized threat.”

The film gives international examples of “Islamic evil” and then zooms in on the Netherlands. It is unclear what he will show of the Netherlands. Nor did Wilders want to comment further on whether the Koran will be torn or burned in his film.

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Protected: Het Nieuwsblad – 'De profeet Mohammed is een enge duivel'

Posted on February 10th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News.

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Protected: Het Nieuwsblad – ‘De profeet Mohammed is een enge duivel’

Posted on February 10th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News.

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Protected: Elsevier.nl – Cultuur & Televisie – Museum ontkent afblazen expositie homo-Mohammed

Posted on February 9th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News.

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Protected: 'Islam is mijn 'Fitna', mijn beproeving' | Brabants Dagblad

Posted on February 9th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News, Public Islam.

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Protected: ‘Islam is mijn ‘Fitna’, mijn beproeving’ | Brabants Dagblad

Posted on February 9th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News, Public Islam.

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Wilders mag moslims beledigen – Binnenland – Telegraaf.nl

Posted on February 8th, 2008 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

Wilders mag moslims beledigen – Binnenland – Telegraaf.nl
door Jouke Schaafsma

AMSTERDAM – Geert Wilders mag moslims beledigen van justitie. Het openbaar ministerie doet niets met de aangiften naar aanleiding van Wilders’ uitspraken zoals ‘een tsunami van islamisering’.

Drie aangiften die in 2006 werden ingediend over uitlatingen van de politicus heeft het openbaar ministerie afgedaan. Volgens het OM ‘waren ze niet strafbaar’. Verschillende organisaties, zoals Radar en Meldpunt Discriminatie Internet, hadden in 2006 bij de politie aangeklopt. Ze zijn nog niet op de hoogte gesteld, maar justitie liet deze krant al weten er niet verder mee te gaan.

Na deze eerste drie aangiften volgden nog 42 nieuwe aanklachten over uitlating die Wilders in 2007 deed, zoals zijn voorstel de Koran te verscheuren. De hoogste baas van het openbaar ministerie, het college van procureurs-generaal, buigt zich nog over de vraag of die uitspraken wel strafbaar waren en bijvoorbeeld haat zaaien.

Vanwege het maatschappelijk belang zijn alle aangiften gebundeld en beoordeeld door een speciale afdeling van het OM, het Landelijk Expertise Centrum Discriminatie (LECD).

,,Er is inmiddels een intern advies gedaan door het LECD, maar het zal nog enkele weken duren voordat er een besluit is. Daar zal dan de minister van justitie over in kennis worden gesteld”, zegt een woordvoerder van justitie.

Een deel van de aangevers vindt dat het allemaal te lang duurt en stapt nu naar het gerechtshof om justitie te dwingen een besluit te nemen over het al dan niet vervolgen van Wilders. Advocaat Haroon Raza die namens een groep Pakistaanse moslims naar de politie stapte, dient daartoe een bezwaarschrift in op basis van een zogenoemde artikel 12-procedure.

,,We zijn geschokt dat na de eerste aangiften uit 2006 geen vervolging komt”, zegt Raza. ,,Het is nog afwachten wat met onze eigen aangifte gebeurd. Ik heb gisteren gesproken met de betreffende officier van justitie, mr. Velleman, en die heeft gezegd pas na de film van Wilder een besluit te willen nemen. Belachelijk. Ze durven geen besluit te nemen en zitten het gewoon te rekken.”

Justitie ontkent dat de film van Wilders een rol speelt bij de tijd die wordt genomen om het besluit te nemen. ,,Wel is het zo dat als er weer aangiften worden gedaan naar aanleiding van de film over Wilders, dan willen we die meenemen als het besluit dan nog niet is gevallen. Het is net als bij een dief waar aangifte tegen is gedaan en hij pleegt weer een diefstal nog voor het voor de rechter is. Dan wil je die tweede aangifte ook meenemen”, aldus de justitie-woordvoerder.

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Protected: Hoezo onhandig? – Binnenland – Telegraaf.nl

Posted on February 7th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Gouda Issues, Multiculti Issues.

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Wikipedia and the prophet Muhammad

Posted on February 6th, 2008 by .
Categories: Blogosphere.

A few netizens have created a petition to ban images from the Prophet Muhammad from the Wikipedia page about Muhammad. The text of this petition is:

In Islam picture of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and other Humans are not allowed. But Wikipedia editors are showing illustrations with face illustrated and face is veiled or white washed. But still they are offensive to Muslims. I request all brothers and sisters to sign this petitions so we can tell Wikipedia to respect the religion and remove the illustrations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad
specially this one
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Maome.jpg

If you agree, then go here and sign the petition as did many of thousands before you. If you don’t agree, then sign the counter petition here. (And if you don’t care, just have a look and stay here 😉 ).

Because of the debat Wikipedia had to create another page for people requesting the images be removed instead: Talk:Muhammad/images#Image_solution. Wikipedia explains their policy on the Muhammed FAQ page. Wikipedia makes it very clear that they will not remove the images but they do provide a way for users to change their browser settings so that any pictures that offend them can be hidden from their view.

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Let's be nice to mr. Wilders

Posted on February 6th, 2008 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues.

The plans of Dutch politician to release a film about the Quran has unleashed a firm debate, if not moral panic. His political propaganda film will be about the, according to him, intolerant, violent and fascist message of Islam which incites Muslims to hatred and violence.

Among Muslims in the Netherlands the plans have raised some eyebrows and there were meetings between mosques and local authorities but in general, is my impression, many Muslims do not care. Many of them do wonder however if and how they should respond.

The film isn’t there yet but first the responses are there now and they can all be labelled as: let’s be nice. There is for example the initiative of sending as many hugs to him as possible and the initiative ‘Holland loves Muslims‘.

1 comment.

Let’s be nice to mr. Wilders

Posted on February 6th, 2008 by .
Categories: Multiculti Issues.

The plans of Dutch politician to release a film about the Quran has unleashed a firm debate, if not moral panic. His political propaganda film will be about the, according to him, intolerant, violent and fascist message of Islam which incites Muslims to hatred and violence.

Among Muslims in the Netherlands the plans have raised some eyebrows and there were meetings between mosques and local authorities but in general, is my impression, many Muslims do not care. Many of them do wonder however if and how they should respond.

The film isn’t there yet but first the responses are there now and they can all be labelled as: let’s be nice. There is for example the initiative of sending as many hugs to him as possible and the initiative ‘Holland loves Muslims‘.

1 comment.

Breaking Through – TIME

Posted on February 6th, 2008 by .
Categories: Multiculti Issues.

Breaking Through – TIME

An article by Carla Power in Time Magazine on Dutch (among others) Muslims with a succesful professional career.

When Famile Arslan showed up for her first day of work, the receptionist pointed her toward the broom closet. “‘The cleaning supplies are over there,'” Arslan recalls being told. “I had to say, ‘No, I’m not the cleaner. I’m the lawyer.'” In fairness to the receptionist, Arslan was making history that morning, as the first attorney to wear a hijab in the Netherlands. Ten years on, she has her own practice in the Hague. Her name’s on the door, her cat Hussein pads around and a veiled assistant fields phone calls. “People keep telling me how successful I am,” says Arslan. “But I’m not all that successful. Had I not been a migrant woman in a hijab, I could have gone much further.” Still, when younger Muslims ask Arslan how to climb the professional ladder, she’s optimistic. “If you think strategically, this is a great time to be a European Muslim,” she argues. “Everyone’s focused on us, so it’s an opportunity — if you take it.”

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