Dutch Film Condemns Islam

Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders' 15-minute anti-Islam film, "Fitna" is increasingly hard to find on the Web, courtesy of vigorous protests by militant Islam's votaries, and P.C. types in the West.  Yet Haaretz, the Israeli daily, reports that within the Netherlands there has been more criticism of the film from Jews than Muslims.  The Dutch head of one Zionist group found the citation of Muslim demographics in Europe anti-Muslim, and asserted that Muslims had been told to keep quiet about the film.  Haaretz said that anticipated Muslim rioting did not happen.

The film is harshly critical of the Quran, whose interpretation is a matter of disputation among scholars.  Citing mushrooming Muslim population growth inside Europe, when coupled to riots in recent years and in light of the surfacing of practices such as honor killings, does not strike me as unfair.  Wilders might have bowed in the direction of some moderates who ha spoken up.  But Wilders himself faces death threats, and even lived in a jail cell, of his own volition, for some time after the murder of Theo can Gogh in 2004, whose film infuriated his assassin.  Wilders thus deserves a measure of latitude.

Most chilling of all in the film is the depiction of a 3-1/2 year-old child being induced to recite what she has been taught about Jews--that they are pigs and apes.  This is far more important than arguments over demographics.