Jordan Times
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Government condemns Dutch
anti-Islam movie
By Linda Hindi with agency dispatches
AMMAN - The government on Monday condemned the production and online
broadcasting of a short anti-Islam movie by a Dutch lawmaker, as the Dutch
government released another statement further distancing itself from the
offensive film.
Meanwhile, MPs are awaiting a response for two petitions they have filed that
call on the government to sever all ties with the Netherlands and Denmark.
"We respect international norms and conventions that protect and entrench the
freedom of belief and expression, but what has been done is an exploitation of
this freedom in an offensive way to the religions intended to sow the seeds of
hatred and animosity, an act we condemn and reject," Minister of State for Media
Affairs and Communications Nasser Judeh said in a statement yesterday, carried
by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
He cited the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’
Paragraph 3, Article 19 stating that the exercise of expression and opinion
rights carries with it special duties and responsibilities. “Therefore, this
freedom must be subject to certain legal restrictions that ensures that people’s
religious beliefs and dignity is safeguarded.”
He also highlighted Article 20 of the same covenant, which stipulates “any
advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to
discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law”.
He said Foreign Minister Salah Bashir has asked the ambassadors to Brussels and
Vienna to meet the president of the European Parliament and other officials in a
bid to "prevent future attempts to insult Islam and the Prophet Mohammad”.
The 15-minute film entitled "Fitna", an Arabic word for sedition or disturbance,
portrays Islam as a threat to the Western world. It shows images of violent acts
and holds Islam and the Koran responsible for them.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende released a statement on behalf of the
Dutch government on the day the odious film was posted on the Internet.
The Dutch government banned the movie from being displayed on cinema screens.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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,” Balkenende
said.
Judeh said that the government valued the Dutch government’s condemnation of the
film.
Geert Wilders, the far-right Dutch MP who produced the film, heads the Freedom
Party that has nine seats in the Dutch parliament.
The Dutch government, however, remains on alert for delayed responses to
Wilders’ film.
“Sometimes it can take months before the true repercussions are felt," AFP
reported Balkenende as saying.
Meanwhile, Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen sought to dampen anger through
diplomacy and met with 26 ambassadors from the member states of the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference, including Jordan’s envoy.
After the meeting, Verhagen issued a statement saying: "I am happy with the
moderate reactions we have been getting from the Muslim world." He added, "the
rhetoric in some countries shows that we must be alert.”
"Let us keep a cool head while preserving the warmth of our relationship," the
statement said.
Petitions
Also yesterday, a petition that was signed by over 50 MPs calling for cutting
diplomatic ties with the Netherlands was submitted to the government.
“I am sure of the overwhelming support of Jordanian MPs who agree we must take
government action to ensure fanatics are not allowed to fuel Islamophobia,” MP
Ali Dalaeen (Karak, 5th District) told The Jordan Times.
Dalaeen, who initiated the petition, added that 53 of the 57 MPs who received
the petition signed it.
Two weeks ago, 48 deputies signed a petition demanding the government
immediately send the Danish ambassador home and sever all ties with Denmark.
The first petition was in response to the offensive cartoons of the Prophet
Mohammad which were published in Denmark.
“We have still not received any response from the government but I plan to send
weekly reminders to the Prime Ministry for a response,” he said.
Practically speaking, the motion will lead nowhere as the Lower House must first
vote on the issue, after which it is sent to the Senate for approval, according
to observers of Sunday’s session.
However, the MP noted that in contrast to Denmark’s “lukewarm” responses to
criticism of the inflammatory cartoons, he respects the Dutch government and
people “who have clearly distanced themselves from the hurtful film”.
But he stopped short of saying if the lawmakers who signed the petition were
having second thoughts on their call to sever ties with Amsterdam.
In an interview with Dutch television, the lawmaker called on its citizens to be
weary of voting for “fanatics” since it is not in their interest to vote for MPs
who do not care about ending years of friendly trade and political relations
with the Arab and Muslim worlds.