INDONESIA WARNS AGAINST DUTCH MP’S FILM

Indonesia has said the film Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders plans to release about the Qur’an could derail interfaith dialogue and harm efforts toward global stability and peace. The film, called Fitna (Slander), is said to depict Islam’s holy text as a “fascist book” that “should be banned”. Wilders said he plans to release the 15-minute film on March 28 and has already said the Qur’an is like Adolf Hitler’s best-seller Mein Kampf or My Struggle – an autobiography and an exposition of Hitler’s ideology. Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo said on March 14, “It is really inappropriate if (Wilders) presses on with his plan to release the film knowing it will offend Muslim communities. This film would serve as a new obstacle to the efforts that we all have initiated.” A group of Islamic, Christian and Catholic leaders in Indonesia issued a joint statement condemning and calling on the Dutch government to thwart the planned film release. They said, if released, the film would hurt Muslims worldwide and create uncalled-for strife among communities. Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said late last month that his government “fundamentally disagreed” with Wilders, but he is unable to stop it.