A Critique of Fitna ‘Let’s build confidence and trust’

“Gentlemen,

“In the wake of the publication of the slanderous film ‘Fitna’ by the right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders, I wish to offer the following thoughts:

“When a statement, a verse, or even a video clip is taken out of context, it is bound to invite misconception and leave the door wide open to misinterpretation and misreading into the facts. And when this is calculatedly done with the full purpose and ill intention to do just that, then the matter takes a different dimension altogether.

What Mr. Wilders has done is that he had, wickedly selected totally unrelated extracts from various sources and compiled them in a film with only one intention; that is to denigrate the Holy Quran and portray Islam as a religion of violence, hatred and destruction.

“I will not attempt to refute every single statement included in the film, but will only give one small example of its gross misrepresentation:

“Mr. Wilders quoted the Quranic verse (08.60), out of context, obviously with the intention of equating Islam with aggression and brutality. The ordinary reader wouldn’t know that this verse was directed to the enemy, which is clearly explained in the following verse (08.61)! But, for obvious reasons, Mr. Wilders would not show the latter, which in fact complements the previous one, as this would simply defeat his purpose (please see the translation below).

“008.060

“YUSUFALI: Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.

“PICKTHAL: Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. Allah knoweth them. Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.

“SHAKIR: And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah’s way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.

“008.061

“YUSUFALI: But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah: for He is One that heareth and knoweth (all things).

“PICKTHAL: And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He, even He, is the Hearer, the Knower.

“SHAKIR: And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

“Surely, Mr. Wilders does not expect the Muslims, when attacked, to just sit back and ‘die quietly’ without showing any resistance, or, does he!?

“In the two World Wars, Christians fought against each other and the magnitude of death and destruction was unimaginable. I ask Mr. Wilders, if the teachings, or the ‘ideology’ – as he puts it – of the Holy Quran was responsible then!!?

“In every faith, there are lunatics and fanatics who hijack the religion to convey their own sick and perverted ideologies. In no way should any religion be judged by the wrong doing of the few.

“I would strongly invite our Dutch legislator to watch Christiana Amanpour’s compelling documentary “God’s Warriors”, aired on CNN last year, http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/ which vividly illustrates the core issue and my case in point.

God’s Muslim Warriors:

http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=3 &x_outlet=14&x_article=1358

God’s Jewish Warriors:

http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=3 &x_outlet=14&x_article=1354

God’s Christian Warriors:

http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=3 &x_outlet=14&x_article=1359

“I also refer Mr. Wilders to what some of the people who did not believe in the Prophet of Islam said about his attributes, such as George Bernard Shaw, Napoleon Bonaparte, Leo Tolstoy, the great French historian Alphonse de Lamartine, Michael H. Hart, Mahatma Ghandi, Thomas Carlyle, Encyclopaedia Britannica and even Karl Marx, the father of communism, the list goes on. Please see the attached presentation.

It would be hard to believe that those great leaders, authors, historians and intellects have fallen victims of misconception and delusion about a Faith and a Prophet that only Mr. Wilders has been able to fathom out.

“Yes, you may argue, he is entitled to his own opinion and to freedom of expression, and yes, that may be the case, but we all know that the power to exercise this right in the western world is not absolute or limitless. For we all know, this freedom of expression would not dare to unfavourably address such issues as the holocaust, or even Israeli policies and the heavy handed treatment of the Palestinians in the occupied lands! In other words, if you dare to question the number of Jews who, so horribly, perished in the holocaust (which is stoutly deplored by true Muslims), you could be criminalized under the laws of most European countries, such as the case of British historian David Irving who was arrested in Austria in 2005 for an ‘opinion crime’ that he had ‘committed’ in 1989

http://www.fpp.co.uk/Austria/arrest_2005/index.html and the case of the French Philosopher Roger Garoudi, who was charged in France, ‘the cradle of Democracy’, for exercising his ‘freedom of speech’ and expressing an opinion that was allegedly considered ‘anti-Semitic’. On the other hand, if you choose to defame and slander the Holy Book of 1.3 billion Muslims and insult their Prophet, well, that would be construed as ‘freedom of expression’, which is protected by the same laws! The hypocrisy and double standards here are both inconceivable and perplexing!

“Under the Islamic Faith, one cannot be a true Muslim unless he/she believes in and respects all God’s Holy Books and His Divine prophets. And while all of us should try to bridge divides, promote tolerance, respect each other’s differences and find modus-vivendi, here comes Mr. Wilders with his provocative smear campaign, inciting hatred, promoting divide and insulting the sentiments of Muslims around the globe.

“To Mr. Wilders we say: You have crossed the line of legitimate criticism. This is how the majority of Muslims feel, and this is why they have decided to boycott the Dutch product.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/1/nation/20804686 &sec=nation

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/30/malaysia.fitna.ap/#cnnSTCVi deo

http://adib.typepad.com/blog/2008/03/boycott-dutch-p.html

http://www.bt.com.bn/en/education/2008/04/07/dutch_jews_condemning_fitna_fi lm_louder_than_muslims

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jwnhQyhwghtV7SfZCMAK0bOl3lLg

“Ironically, every time someone tries to tarnish the image of Islam and its Prophet, more and more free-thinking people, especially in the western world, dig deep into the Holy Quran, to seek the truth for themselves, and the more they do the more a growing number of them convert to Islam. This is an undisputable fact that, I can not help thinking, must be scaring and irritating Mr. Wilders and probably is the driving force behind his attempts to denigrate the Islamic Faith. It is evident from the following sample links, that this fact cannot be underestimated:

“The American (NBC) says more than twenty thousands persons convert to Islam every year in USANBC

NEWS: 20000 Americans Convert to ISLAM Each Year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/2PS2creVhaM

An American priest says “A lot of priests convert to Islam”

Yusuf Estes – Priests and Preachers accepting Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/E6K0627FiCk

Many Latinos Convert Daily To ISLAM.. Live From Venezuela!

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/1XyrxzQIN9w

Every day many Germans convert to ISLAM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/34kjurzK500

Holland TV: ISLAM fastest spreading Faith among Youth Germans:

www.youtube.com/watch/v/WAXXN6XOnzQ

Thousands of Danish convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/kru6XQ8CT48

TV Report Thousands Hispanics Converting To ISLAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/yDwGsmTx3D4

Abdullah – My journey to Islam (Video) A must watch.

Islam in the Bible – by a former Christian youth Minister A former Christian youth Minister who was studying to be a Bible scholar.

Haji Maryam Mohammed Ahmed, American Muslima, she lives only to talk about Islam, She is available to talk to Christians about Bible and Quran. Her email is: [email protected] , Read her story.

TV Report: German Muslims Growing in Number Rapidly

TV Report: 4000 Germans Converted To ISLAM Last Year!

Chaplain James Yee on becoming a Muslim

Media Fooled Islam Haters – Now Converted to Islam – part 1

Scientist From Czech Republic explains the beauty & simplicity of The Quran

Ex-Christian William Suhaib Webb talks about Islam and being Muslim

Angela Collins – Muslim Convert weeks after 9/11 Incident

Jews and Christians Convert to Islam This video clip is about an Islamic (Muslim) Seminary that was founded by a former Christian

Vlog #10: How did you convert to Islam? (Season finale) The way we carry ourselves is the way we carry Islam to the people.

British Catholic Priest Converted To ISLAM Wonderful Story about former Catholic Priest who used to work in the Vatican and left all that for Islam after he found the right Path to the Truth.

Islam Convert A Lady converted to Islam and wears a Hijab without coercion

135 Convert to Islam 135 People accept Islam after this lecture given by Sheikh Yusuf Estes (American born convert to Islam, speaker, scholar)

Un Français converti en Islam _French man converted to Islam

European Scientist converts to Islam Prof. Milan from Czech Republic … converted to Islam after reading the holy Quran

Three French sisters convert to Islam

Scientist Converts to Islam Video of a scientist explaining why he embraced Islam, (from his former beliefs that there is no God).

Fox News: American Woman Converted To Islam After 9/11 American Woman Converted To Islam after 9/11

Dr. Caner Brothers, Converts From Islam to Christianity-Part1 Dr.Ergun Caner, PhD, Dean of Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va (Website: www.erguncaner.com )

Dr.Caner Brothers, Converts From islam to Christianity-Part2 Dr.Ergun Caner, PhD, Dean of Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va (Website: www.erguncaner.com )

Dr Ian Webber from England Converts to Islam in Beirut Dr Ian Webber from England Converts to Islam in Beirut

A German Physician and His Wife Converted to Islam A German physician and his wife telling their story of coming to Islam in a TV interview

WHY Christians German smart Lady convert to ISLAM

New Sister From South Germany

TV Report Rechtsanwalt konvertiert zum ISLAM

The story of a German convert to Islam

Every day many Germans convert to ISLAM.. Live Shahadas!

WHY Christians convert to ISLAM, SEE VIDEO

WHY many Girls convert to ISLAM, what the reasons!!

TV_Report: Christians Convert To ISLAM in France

Jew converted to Islam ( Joseph Cohen aka Yusuf Khattab) A Jew called Joseph Cohen, was living in USA then moved to Gaza in Palestine as a Jew settler on the year 1998.. He met an Emarati (from UAE) Muslim Sheikh through the internet and discussed with him religious discussion about many facts, w A Jew called Joseph Cohen, was living in USA then moved to Gaza in Palestine as a Jew settler on the year 1998.. He met an Emarati (from UAE) Muslim Sheikh through the internet and discussed with him religious discussion about many facts, which ended for Cohen to be a Muslim, converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Khattab. If you want to contact Yusuf Al-Khattab, then visit his Forum “Jews for Allah”

AT: http://www.jews-for-allah.org/phpbb/index.php

Jewish Convert to Islam Part 2 Jewish Convert to Islam Yousef al-Khattab

Jewish Convert to Islam Part 3 Jewish Convert to Islam Yousef al-Khattab

Australian Woman Converts To Islam Susan Carland (Australian Muslim of the Year 2004) and her journey to Islam.

Two Women with different Colors convert to Islam .. Live ! Two Women with different Colors convert to Islam .. Live from London !

Convert to Islam from Hinduism Convert to Islam story

German christ convert to Islam German Christ convert to Islam

More Converts to Islam In US Some More recent convert to Islam in USA shown in CNN and other media network

German Scientist & his wife, clinic assistant convert 2 Islam He accepts the Islam by its logic teaching

Interview with a Convert to Islam

German Christ. convert to Islam German Portuguese Christian is telling why he converted to Islam. www.diewahrereligion.de

German Doctor Converts To Islam.. Part 1 Deutscher Artzt konvertiert zum islam

German Doctor Converts To Islam.. Part 2 Deutscher Artzt konvertiert zum islam

Robert converts to Islam Robert’s story of his journey to Islam

Christian Coptic Egyptian converts to Islam Christian Coptic Egyptian converts to Islam and makes SHAHADA

Why we converted to Islam? Part 1 from Darkness into Light

American girl convert to Islam from Christianity A girl born and raised in California, converts to Islam after spending most of her life in Christianity, find out why.

Interview with a convert to Islam Why I became a Muslim.

German Scientist & his wife, clinic assistant convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/uP-2IqH_l4c

European Scientist converts to Islam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/0IspK651RpY

Dr. Ian Weber from England converts to Islam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/gUZR6XwU8Pw

Science students turn to Islam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/y3_JYk4Bo4Y

TV Report Christians Convert to ISLAM in France

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/Dhu0eEuIsGg

Turning Muslim in Texas – People reverting to Islam in Texas

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do…46116459496814

Angela Collins – Muslim Convert weeks after 9/11 Incident

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/j6PJgJdEzNM

NEW MUSLIM Woman from Australia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/-baqULx5IBU

The Choice – A Story of New American Muslim Convert

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/CML3CRPMefA

Irish and “loving Islam” Convert to Islam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/dIc5oFAva-4

Jewish To Islam convert

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/KcBiJnLjwVw

A Moslem tells what happen to after converting to Islam

www.youtube.com/watch/v/IlOuITPE6kE

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/1qpQvpmEqkc

Why do they accept the Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/aJ3TGAnFc-U

Convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/36Glj_FAGcw

Convert to Islam from Canada

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/uKPer2fma9U

Revert to Islam – Brian From Christianity (Convert to Islam) …

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/bI_YVnD9UvI

Many Jew and Christian Families Convert To ISLAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/84ZtVLI5kXM

British Catholic Priest Converted To ISLAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/pn0iPlWQNlI

Greece Men Convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/IlAjkuECrHc

Convert to Islam from Hinduism

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/zePqNxz895U

Christians Convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/HDkW2Y35mKQ

Twenty two/22 Brothers and sisters convert to (Islam) ….

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/XQBn6loQTdY

Two british Women of different colours convert to Islam

www.youtube.com/watch/v/uEfMcPQfv7w

German convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/9U1zNXXQA6Q

Three French Sisters Convert To ISLAM :

www.youtube.com/watch/v/JiksSo0lwL4

Sister Yvonne Ridley Becomes Muslim Islam Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/aOe5s5hP4Gw

WHY Christians German Lady convert to ISLAM, SEE VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/afFv22Wsd5A

Germany Convert To ISLAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/os4vUxfJizU

Jerome How I wrestled my way to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/b2YZGGDGUWE

The story of a German convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/gjRjzTAk-RQ

Revert to Islam – Abdus Salam (Convert to Islam) …

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/VqlilLIQJRE

Revert to Islam – Maryam Noor (Convert From Christianity) ….

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/ig0N9aRT0Hc

Germans convert to Islam on german TV

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/nFqj3xPKc88

TV Report Rechtsanwalt konvertiert zum ISLAM :

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/_4LrIv6kK9o

Jolene a Southern Baptist Converts to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/RHQOx12-WJU

Revert to Islam – Muhammad Musab (Convert From Christianity) …. http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/Co0xom_KcXM

Revert to Islam – Yusuf Ali (Convert to Islam) … :

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/NcjXK7qzE_k

How Melina came to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/jLht7Kk0bGg

Revert to Islam – Abdullah Laban (Convert to Islam) … :

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/gGeHzUkkJH4

TVReport Latinos Leaving the Church and Turning to ISLAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/j2w14xxi0bM

William Chappell and 25 members of his family embrace Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/mkBW4l4TmPE

Islam in Netherlands

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do…97847671713770

6 German convert to Islam – 2007 – LIVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/0SpqpGKp7ts

Caroline converts from Christianity to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/2Cpmvne2wj0

Japanese Women Turning to ISLAM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/L7PIOhK-SgA

American converted Muslim Woman speaking about the Veil

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/L85Mcq3EDX8

Dia Richardson converted to Islam in USA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/Tp097NNj3Pk

German christ convert to ISLAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/UTyu18RgrAo

New Muslim Lady from London

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/NTlta20vsow

Dutch Women Turning To ISLAM inHolland

www.youtube.com/watch/v/UyyxPO0HFLk

New Sister from South Germany

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/EkBRKrUDnEU

How to Convert to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/i9K7lmYaucU

4 New Muslims from 4 Corners of the World

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do…59428535210219

Jenny- How I came to Islam

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do…40716668905509

Cat Stevens becomes Yusuf Islam

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do…65900354777626

Islam: Youngest Muslim Reverts in The World- in England

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do…31311255429137

Why Abdul Raheem Green Came to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/wF8joJaOVJw

Robert converts to Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/vU5HGHiNUu0

Islam: Best and inspirational Revert Story

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do…40414685693208

Revert to Islam – Sister Crystal (Convert From Christianity) …

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/IZF9stLSYjY

Spanish Woman talks about Woman rights in Islam

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/exdCJ_wT9E4

“But why the boycott and why the collective punishment; some may argue?

“The boycott is a symbolic message and is the only civilised way of expressing Muslims outrage and denunciation of Mr. Wilders’ flagrant insult. A boycott, of course, is better than an outpouring of violent rage, which I believe was probably what Mr. Wilders was hoping for at the first place. No Sir, not this time. We are going to deny you the pleasure of a violent reaction to your slander and the satisfaction of you saying: ‘that’s exactly what I have been trying to tell you all along’. No Sir, not this time.

“The Muslim nations acknowledge and respect the fact that the Dutch Government has distanced itself from the film quite early in the day. They acknowledge, I hope, that when ambassadors of 26 Islamic countries met with Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen to see whether the film could be banned, they were told that not only had the public prosecutor started investigating whether any offence had been committed, the Dutch Government had also voiced its own condemnation against the film.

“Nonetheless, the whole purpose of the boycott is to apply a degree of economic pressure with the hope that a legislation can be decreed by the European Community to criminalise the defaming of all faiths alike. Needless to say, if Mr. Wilders feels he has the right to insult, then by the same token, Muslims should have the right to react. If the Dutch Government feels that Mr. Wilders’ despicable behaviour would hurt its interests, then it is high time they did something about it.”

“Dear Sir,

“Thank you for mailing us your comments in response to the online film released by Mr Wilders.

“Below you will find the full text of the statement on this issue made by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

“Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende:

‘On behalf of the Dutch government, I would like to respond to the online film by Mr Wilders.

“The film shows images of violent acts and holds Islam and the Koran responsible for them. The government condemns such acts and those who commit them.

“The film equates Islam with violence. We reject this interpretation. The vast majority of Muslims reject extremism and violence. In fact, the victims are often also Muslims.

“We therefore regret that Mr Wilders has released this film. We believe it serves no purpose other than to cause offence. But feeling offended must never be used as an excuse for aggression and threats. The government is heartened by the initial restrained reactions of Dutch Muslim organisations.

“Muslims, Christians and people of other convictions can easily live together in peace. The problem is not religion, but misuse of religion to sow hatred and intolerance. That is why we are calling for respect for everyone’s deepest convictions.

“We are aware of the concerns and the sentiments about this film in the international Muslim community. We have recently spoken with many people at home and abroad to promote mutual understanding. We will continue to follow this course.

“The Dutch government stands for a society in which freedom and respect go hand in hand. Such a society demands dedication and commitment. We oppose extremism. Anyone who breaks the law is dealt with firmly. Let us solve problems by working together. Let us reach out to others and build confidence and trust. Let us conquer prejudice. We shall surely succeed.’”