Church body denounces Dutch anti-Koran film
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008, 9:56 (BST)
Global ecumenical body the World Council of Churches (WCC) has condemned a provocative new film released by a Dutch parliamentarian in which he accuses the Koran of inciting violence.
The director of the WCC’s Programme on Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation criticised Geert Wilders’ short film “Fitna” as "a clear case of Islamophobia". The word ‘fitna’ is an Arabic term that is sometimes translated as ‘strife’.
"Through graphic images the filmmaker depicts violent extremism without any attempt to distinguish it from mainstream Islam. Extremism is a problem for most religions and needs to be countered through interreligious dialogue," Premawardhana said.
Wilders, who is leader of the anti-immigration Freedom Party, launched his short video on the Internet last Thursday to the outcry of Muslims around the world. In the film, images of the September 11 attacks on the US and bombings by Islamic extremists appear alongside quotations from the Koran.
European Union foreign ministers condemned the film and expressed their support for the Dutch Government, which has distanced itself from Wilders’ film.
"The film equates Islam with violence and this view is sharply rejected," the 27 ministers said in a statement.
The EU said, however, that the film did not surpass the boundaries of freedom of expression and that those offended by its content should not react violently.
"Feeling offended is no excuse for aggression or threats," the ministers said.
"Muslims, Christians and people of all convictions and beliefs must live together in peace and mutual respect."
The film has caused offence in a number of majority-Muslim countries, including Iran which called the film heinous, blasphemous and anti-Islamic.
A delegation of Dutch Christians and Muslims travelled to Egypt last week in an effort to limit the possible damage caused by the film. According to Ecumenical News International, they went with the message that the large majority of the population, the churches and Muslim communities in the Netherlands are opposed to the film, but that free speech means that the Dutch Government is powerless to block its release.
According to members of the delegation, the spiritual leader of the world’s Sunni Muslims, Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, expressed his discontent to them during a half-hour meeting.
"A single member of parliament in the Netherlands insults one-and-a-half billion Muslims. That is intolerable,” they quoted the Sheikh as saying.
Delegation member and General Secretary of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, Bas Plaisier, said after the meeting with Tantawy, “Yet again it has become clear to us how the response to this issue is very emotional in the Arab world. This film is playing with fire.”
Earlier in the month, the WCC issued the commentary “Learning to explore love together” in which it urged Muslims and Christians to find common ground in love for God and for one’s neighbour.
The commentary followed the "Minute on our religious imperative to foster sensitivity and reconciliation in shifting society” released by the WCC’s Central Committee in February. The document encourages churches to “work towards reconciliation and healing” through dialogue with Muslims that would lead communities "not only from hostility to peaceful co-existence, but also to celebrations of our common life".
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Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Monday, March 31, 2008, 22:14 (BST)
This article is just bizarre - why do these ministers feel the need to comment? I think there is a reason why fundamentalist Christians are normal and fundamentalist muslims are violent, and i think that difference stems from the nature of both the Bible and koran- but then i haven't seen the film, so can't say whether i agree or disagree!
Chris Longbottom, Leeds, UK
Added: Monday, March 31, 2008, 18:27 (BST)
The World Council of Churches [WCC] is a political body. I've read the Koran & I've seen the film & anyone who doesn't suffer from "Islamophobia" is a fool! I commend Mr. Wilders for being strong & brave enough to let the world know the truth about the goals of Muslims around the world. Mr. Wilders showed the world what our politically correct media refused to tell us. Mainstream Islam hasn't removed those section of the Koran that tell Muslims to kill anyone who doesn't worship Allah or his followers! Mainstream Islam hasn't removed those sections of the Koran that tell Muslims that they are allowed to use whatever means of force they find to be necessary to kill anyone who refuses to convert to Islam up to & included torture & murder! All the talk in the world isn't going to change this. Many of us are getting sick & tired of being told that we have to be tolerant of an intolerant bunch of people who are out to ultimately convert or kill us!
Katie, Albuquerque, NM USA
Added: Monday, March 31, 2008, 13:34 (BST)
Religious friction is at a boiling point at present and when somebody pour
oil to the fire, that will create an inferno and the total destruction would be
beyond imagination. If anybody wants to introduce Jesus to the believer
of another relgion; it can be done only through the love of Jesus. Throwing
trash at other religions and sowing the seeds of hatred and bitterness is
toally counterproductive: that creates more radical elements in other
religions.
A. S. Mathew, Ringgold, U.S.A.
Added: Monday, March 31, 2008, 12:35 (BST)
I am saddened that when someone tries to tell the truth about Islam he is condemned by a body purporting to represent Christians. It may represent those calling themselves Christian but are clearly not so.
To appease Islam is to give in to its threats whilst they are still only anticipated. It is a violent religion as events have proved; it is not only the radical extremes that are violent as we have seen from the riots that take place whenever they feel aggrieved and to suggest otherwise is one of Satan's lies.
Islam is Satan's system here on earth and all Christains and those who say they represent them should be bold in pointing this out. It is interesting that the EU, representing Satan political system on earth, Socialism, is quick to defend Islam.
It is indeed sad to see those saying they represent Christians joining the voices of those Satanically inspired.
Roy Smith, Wiltshire, England
