Islamic Reaction To Dutch Video Will Be Telling

By: Greg Pivarnik

Posted: 4/1/08

A recent video released by Geert Wilders, a Dutch right-wing politician, is sparking outrage in the Muslim world. The issue here is not Wilders' right to freedom of speech, which the Dutch should protect at all cost, but it is the reaction by the Muslim world that needs to be closely monitored. His views, however incorrect they may be, do not deserve the immense amount of media scrutiny they have been getting. Unfortunately, the attention he has gotten has nothing to do with his views, but instead the fear of violent Muslim backlash against Dutch citizens at home and abroad.

The video, which I watched on Google, is a shrewd piece of propaganda, but is far from blasphemous. The title of the film is "Fitna," which is a word from the Quran often translated into "strife." The basic premise of the video, which is about 17 minutes long, is that Islam is an inherently violent and intolerant religion toward non-believers. Wilders interweaves quotes from the Quran, which encourage hostility and violence towards non-believers, with images and videos of of extremist Muslim propaganda and violence captured by different media outlets. There are clips of the Sept. 11 attack, the train bombing in Madrid, as well as the bus bombings ins London. There are videos of numerous Muslim leaders, as well as Iranian President Amedenijhad, claiming that Islam is the greatest religion and that all those who do not follow its scruples do not deserve to live. There are videos of executions of women, gays and adulterers, as well as a beheading. People march and shout hate speech towards Jews, with one person even holding up a sign that said "God Bless Hitler." There is even an interview with a little girl who admits that "Jews are pigs" and that her hatred for them as come from the Quran.

Wilders then parlays these images into a message to people of the Netherlands that they need to stop "Islamisation" in their country or eventually face destruction. This is not a new tactic and has been used by politicians in the U.S. as justification for the ill-treatment, torture and as a means to wage war against Muslim peoples. Wilders' sentiments rise out of a fear and lack of understanding about Islam. He sees the growing Muslim population, now near 1 million in a country with a population of only 16 million, as a threat to the culture of the Netherlands (kind of how blacks or Latinos were supposed to ruin the U.S.)

Hopefully many people, as I do, would see Islamic extremism as it is currently defined - extremism. I would like to give the benefit of the doubt that most Muslims do not believe the violent and hateful rhetoric preached by some of their leaders. I would not like to be defined as a white American by the action of the KKK, neo-cons or even the Bush administration. Every religion and culture a part of their society that will resort to violence to push forward ideologies based on prejudice. It wasn't until recently in human history that wars in the name of Jesus ceased to occur. Even today, prejudice still exists in some Christian circles; against Muslims, gays, Jews, secularists and even other Christians.

Muslims and non-Muslims alike have come out against the video. Dutch politicians have decried the video as racist and assured that Wilder does not hold the view of the majority of Dutch citizens. However, the claims that Islam is a peaceful religion, seem to be redundant when more and more extremists find ways to exploit the religion. A couple years ago there was outrage in the Muslim world at Dutch cartoonists for depicting Muhammad in insulting and degrading ways. There were riots around the Muslim world which resulted in fatalities. There was even the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, also depicted in the movie, in broad daylight by an extremist that did not agree with the film makers views that Muslims should treat their women more humanely.

It becomes increasingly harder and harder to argue with people on the right that Muslims deserve a chance, that they aren't all violent, when events like these consistently take place. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and many other people from all walks-of-life, would not even consider the idea of violence in retaliation for a person's prejudiced views. The mere fact that Dutch officials are worried for the safety of their citizens at home and abroad, show that there is an extreme disconnect between the West and much of the Muslim world. There seems to be a significant portion of the Muslim population that do not support freedom of speech in the broadest sense.

Granted, Wilders' video has no other purpose than to be inflammatory. He has no other goal than to use the fear of Islam to propel himself to power. However, despite this, there is no reason that Dutch citizens should fear for their safety, or for their right to free speech. It is now in the hand of Muslims in the Netherlands, and in the rest of the world, to show that they can combat intolerance with intelligent debate and education instead of violence. The religion of peace that many Muslims claim Islam is, needs to be practiced at this moment and not just preached. If violence and unrest does occur, and people are hurt, then Wilders is one step closer to proving his point, and people like myself, who I consider liberal and tolerant, will be one step closer to revoking the benefit of the doubt that I have bestowed upon the Muslim world.

Weekly columnist Greg Pivarnik is an 8th-semester molecular and cell biology major. His column runs on Tuesdays. He can be contacted at Gregory.Pivarnik@UConn.edu