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Geert Wilders is set to release his controversial film, Fitna, which supposedly is be shown on a split screen, with verses and suras from the Koran on one side and examples of Sharia law being carried out on the other, including a beheading and a stoning.
The Wilders' film has been the subject of much controversy and Wilders is under protection for threats to his life because of the short film called "Fitna".
NetWork Solutions, which is a website name registrar has pre-emptively censored and disabled a site registered to provide an outlet to the Wilders' film.
They did this the day before the film was to be released.
Prior to the site's being closed down this weekend, its only content was a picture of a gilded Koran along with the text "Allahu Akhbar," (God is Great), and the words "Geert Wilders presents Fitna - March 23, 2008".
( Content on Fitna site, registered with Network Solutions, at the time the site was disabled)
What is seen now when you click the sites URL, http://www.fitnathemovie.com/ is this message:
This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy. Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation. For more information about Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy visit the following URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/legal/aup.jsp
This pre-censorship action, as it is being called in the media and blogs across the web, has sparked questions and massive amounts of phone calls and emails to the Network Solution's company, some of which have been reported on blogs. Others have canceled their accounts hosted by Network Solutions in response to what they are calling censorship.
Network Solutions is not just seeing criticism from American media and bloggers, but this has made a splash in Spanish and German news and/or blogs as well.
Susan Wade, spokeswoman for Network Solutions, said, "In this situation with the dialogue that’s happening throughout the world we’ve made the choice to suspend the site as of last night. This site is suspended so people can’t see the content right now…”
The Dutch film-maker is still planning on releasing his 15-minute movie by the end of the month, despite the fact that the one Website that has agreed to promote the anti-Islamic film has been temporarily shut down. The movie is entitled “Fitna” and nobody really knows any details on it, except maybe for the Dutch film-maker’s view of the Qur’an as being fascist.
Wilders' statement after the Network Solutions action was, "If necessary I'll go hand out DVDs personally on the Dam."
It looks like he will not have to do that after all though.
This firestorm in the media and blogs continued into today and according to Spiegel Online, a Czech Republic Party has offered to screen it if Wilders can't find another outlet.
The Czech Republic's small National Party offered to release the film on the Internet using one of its servers, in a message posted Sunday on its Web site.
According to the Czech Party that is making this offer to Wilders, it is, "a response to the Islamist terrorists destroying European countries by extortion and attacks."
The continue by saying that they offered to help Wilders with this release, "in reaction to the media's blatant concessions to Islamists."
No one but Wilder himself truly knows the content of the film to be released and other than his words, no one can even prove if there is a film at all.
The questions raised by Network Solutions preemptive censorship, is not whether Wilders' film might be offensive, if it even truly exists, but what is being asked across the Internet, is how could Network Solutions disable a site quoting "complaints about content", when there was no content other than what was shown above, published on the site at the time that they disabled it?
In a previous Spiegel Online piece, they asked if Wilders hadn't already accomplished what he set out to do without even having to publish his film.
All this leaves Wilders is the Internet -- unless, of course, he decides not to show the film, which no one has seen and of which no one can say whether it even exists. The truth is that the "provocateur" has already achieved his goal. Wilders has managed to portray the Dutch and the Europeans as cowards, shouting "we capitulate!" before the battle has even begun.
Is Spiegel Online right and has Network Solutions just further proved Wilders' point?
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He better have SOME TIGHT Security around him 24/7... The peaceful lovers of Sharia law based Eliminations practices are going to go ballistic ... some threats to Holland, Denmark and Belgium have already been leve;ed by the Islamos if movie is shown...
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This will be interesting to continue to watch and see what does come from all of this.
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@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
This will be interesting to continue to watch and see what does come from all of this.
We could be Next to be sued Under Sharia Law, I hear, in our Courts IF anyone shows this Movie... May be we should have Gov Patterson view it while he does White Stuff and Puffs Funny weeds!! -
Yes, let's come to the rescue of a raging racist out to incite and malign.
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@ Bocephalus
Yes, let's come to the rescue of a raging racist out to incite and malign.
Where can you be found so that you can be rescued.. the Restroms are empty! -
@ Bocephalus
Yes, let's come to the rescue of a raging racist out to incite and malign.
Perfect example of the PC crowd sticking their heads in the sand and crying "racism" when someone shows the evil side of Islam. -
Great article Susan. Thank you for the excellent coverage.
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@ Mr Garibaldi
Perfect example of the PC crowd sticking their heads in the sand and crying "racism" when someone shows the evil side of Islam.
AIN't that FUNNY??? CWY and whine to support the Islamo Movement.. and The heck with people's right to expose the "other side" of what the Islamos profess to be.. What caould we do without PC? May be rediscover HONESTY??? -
@ Helena Handbasket
Great article Susan. Thank you for the excellent coverage.
Thanks Helena. I find it funny that other than what Wilders has said, no one really knows what is in this 11-15 minute film and yet it seems so many are soooooo scared for the world to see what some Islamic Extremists are hiding behind Islam to do.
More importantly is the pre-censorship issue... forget the movie, this is a dangerous precedent that Network Solutions is setting and they are losing customers up the gazooo for it right now. -
no one really knows what is in this 11-15 minute film and yet it seems so many are soooooo scared for the world to see what some Islamic Extremists are hiding behind Islam to do.
Ya well, Muslim outrage and ballyhoo moves at warp speed prior to actually knowing what they are outraged about. I call it Islam's pre-emptive media preening. The knee-jerk knashing of teeth and breast-beating we've all come to know and expect.
the pre-censorship issue
..... richly disturbing. But, I'm absolutely against any body or business making my viewing choices for me through censorship. That would be a f*** right off moment for me. -
Entertainment entrepreneur Harry de Winter has taken out a page-wide advert on the front page of Monday's Volkskrant newspaper accusing MP Geert Wilders of racism.
"If Wilders said the same about Jews and the Old Testament as he does about Muslims (and the Koran) he would have been long picked up and sentenced for anti-semitism," the advert reads. The advert is signed by the foundation "Another Jewish voice", which De Winter helped found.
In an interview with the paper, De Winter says that Wilders' approach to Islam is like the build-up of anti-Jewish sentiment before World War II. "I see no difference between a skull-cap (worn by Jewish men) and a headscarf," De Winter said. "I hope we get support from across the Jewish community because they should recognise this like no-one else."
Dutch News, 17 March 2008
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De Winter: Geert Wilders Is a Bigot
by Ellen de Visser
AMSTERDAM - TV Producer Harry de Winter, President of the board of the foundation Een Ander Joods Geluid [Another Jewish Voice], today placed a remarkable advertisement on the front page of the newspaper Volkskrant. De Winter puts Geert Wilders's criticism of Muslims in the same category as anti-Semitism.
The ad as it appeared in Dutch
Als Wilders hetzelfde over Joden (en het Oude Testament) had gezegd als wat hij nu over Moslims (en de Koran) uitkraamt, dan was hij allang afgeserveerd en veroordeeld wegens antisemitisme.
IN ENGLISH:
The ad reads:
"If Wilders had said the same thing about Jews (and the Old Testament) as he does about Muslims (and the Koran), he would have been ostracized a long time ago and accused of anti-Semitism."
What is your message?
"We Jews know better than anyone else what this sort of discrimination can lead to. Wilders claims that the Muslims must be dealt with and that the Koran is a fascist book. That's how the persecution of Jews once started, by generalization. Therefore, it is time for a sharper criticism from the Jewish community. If you say the same thing about the Jews or Israel, you are considered an anti-Semite and ostracized. It is good that this feeling of justice is so strong, but, for me, there is no difference between the yarmulke and the headscarf."
What impact does this generalization have, in your view?
"When I talk with Muslims, I see that they are hardly preoccupied with the question of faith, but because of Wilders they feel compelled to take a position. Either they live in fear or they harden and radicalize. Last week it became too much for me. Muslims are pushed to the brink, and that is dangerous. The Muslim community itself, moreover, must also publicly speak out against terrorism."
What do you hope to achieve?
"I hope that we will get support from the whole Jewish community. At least that's how it should be. Because we can recognize this problem like no one else."
http://thisisbabylon.net/2008/03/24/dutch-jewish-producer-geert-wilders-is-a-bigot/
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So, you give us other peoples opinion on Wilders instead of addressing the topic of Network solutions censorship before anything has been put on the site?
Your bias is getting in the way of addressing the topic at hand bo, although that is not unusual, it is just more obvious today than usual.
Wilders has the same right as anyone else to show the violence that is perpetuated in the name of Islam.
Peace loving Muslims have said the very same thing themselves, only Wilders is going to show it visually by showing beheadings done in the name of religion. Stoning people to death in the name of sharia law.
So what? Again, what he is showing has nothing to do with the pre-emptive censorship issue which this article is addressing.
Or can't you focus long enough to address the actual issue Bo?
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@ Helena Handbasket
..... richly disturbing. But, I'm absolutely against any body or business making my viewing choices for me through censorship. That would be a f*** right off moment for me.
Exactly Helena and thanks for addressing the topic as others seem incapable of doing.
For those that do not wish to see Wilders' film, they don't have to look, but censorship IS a problem and one that Network Solutions is suffering from to a large degree in business and revenue. -
Bo is a perfect example of someone who likes to point out the lessons of the past that have been learned by the very groups he's trying to discredit, but pays no attention whatsoever to the clear and present danger presented by hate groups of today.
Amazing, that.
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Stop deflecting the facts with your stupid insults. This isn't a censorship issue, this is about a raging bigot who wants to vilify Muslims much in the same way Jews were pre-WWII and we all know how that turned out. Stop hiding behind freedom speech. There are other factors, factors such as racial incitement and historical precedent. All religions have extremists that's no excuse for demonizing the whole religion and people who may practice, if that were the case, there wouldn't be Christian who wasn't guilty of crimes perpetrated by Christianity!
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@ Mr Garibaldi
Bo is a perfect example of someone who likes to point out the lessons of the past that have been learned by the very groups he's trying to discredit, but pays no attention whatsoever to the clear and present danger presented by hate groups of today.
Amazing, that.
It is why usually I ignore the comments unless they address the issue of the post which IS censorship. That seems a little difficult for some to understand, but it is clearly a censorship issue since no one has seen the Wilders' film therefore Network Solutions, which is what the article is about, pre-emptively censored the site.
Everyone else is capable of addressing the issue but "some" are incapable of seeing past their bias to rationally discuss censorship issues.
Night again everyone, see you tomorrow. -
@ Bocephalus
Stop deflecting the facts with your stupid insults. This isn't a censorship issue, this is about a raging bigot who wants to vilify Muslims much in the same way Jews were pre-WWII and we all know how that turned out. Stop hiding behind freedom speech. There are other factors, factors such as racial incitement and historical precedent. All religions have extremists that's no excuse for demonizing the whole religion and people who may practice, if that were the case, there wouldn't be Christian who wasn't guilty of crimes perpetrated by Christianity!
More and MORE PC Crap BUT No actual Solutions... But Hey that is the Mantra of the Average PC Clueless Bunch eh???.. Say you... When has pre-WWll Jews ever attacked Us Embassies.. Navy Ships... World trade centers and DECLARED war on Christianity..WELL?????? -
@ Mr Garibaldi
Bo is a perfect example of someone who likes to point out the lessons of the past that have been learned by the very groups he's trying to discredit, but pays no attention whatsoever to the clear and present danger presented by hate groups of today.
Amazing, that.
When PC amoebas take clues from MOVE.on and such .. well see the result... PITIFUL excuses with NO Substance... -
@ redhawk
He better have SOME TIGHT Security around him 24/7... The peaceful lovers of Sharia law based Eliminations practices are going to go ballistic ... some threats to Holland, Denmark and Belgium have already been leve;ed by the Islamos if movie is shown...
The threats will continue from the Islamic extremists, and the movie will be shown despite that. Now there have been three different groups that have come forward to host it.
Network Solutions is suffering severe blowback also... more people canceling NS services:
Thankfully I am a “VIP” customer of Network Solutions and will rectify that tonight when I move my remaining domain name registrations to some place more American (i.e. not in the practice of censorship).
I also sent the following note to my support rep.
Hi,
Please consider this less of a question than a notification. I find Network Solutions decision to censor http://www.fitnathemovie.com/ an abhorrent move that borders on censorship.
That decision is fine with me as you have every right as a private company. But you also have a responsibility as a public company. As a result I will be moving my final remaining domains from Network Solutions ASAP.
Just as I believe private companies have the right to pick and choose private American’s have that same right. I choose to speak with my dollars by spending them somewhere else. It is up to the American people to let corporate censors know that we will not tolerate their heavy handed attempts to dictate the tenor and tone of free speech.
Hollywood today is raising the free speech issue.
383 more news articles questioning them.
It goes on and on and on. -
@ Susan Duclos
Thanks Helena. I find it funny that other than what Wilders has said, no one really knows what is in this 11-15 minute film and yet it seems so many are soooooo scared for the world to see what some Islamic Extremists are hiding behind Islam to do.
More importantly is the pre-censorship issue... forget the movie, this is a dangerous precedent that Network Solutions is setting and they are losing customers up the gazooo for it right now.
It seems a World Wide Movement for CENSURESHIP... Funny thing is that the Hollyweirds and MSMOIDS and Talking heads who seem to back the Globalization of Islam would be the first to perish... -
Update: The movie trailer is out and can be found at The Jawa Report, scroll down. -
@ Bocephalus
De Winter: Geert Wilders Is a Bigot
by Ellen de Visser
AMSTERDAM - TV Producer Harry de Winter, President of the board of the foundation Een Ander Joods Geluid [Another Jewish Voice], today placed a remarkable advertisement on the front page of the newspaper Volkskrant. De Winter puts Geert Wilders's criticism of Muslims in the same category as anti-Semitism.
The ad as it appeared in Dutch
Als Wilders hetzelfde over Joden (en het Oude Testament) had gezegd als wat hij nu over Moslims (en de Koran) uitkraamt, dan was hij allang afgeserveerd en veroordeeld wegens antisemitisme.
IN ENGLISH:
The ad reads:
"If Wilders had said the same thing about Jews (and the Old Testament) as he does about Muslims (and the Koran), he would have been ostracized a long time ago and accused of anti-Semitism."
What is your message?
"We Jews know better than anyone else what this sort of discrimination can lead to. Wilders claims that the Muslims must be dealt with and that the Koran is a fascist book. That's how the persecution of Jews once started, by generalization. Therefore, it is time for a sharper criticism from the Jewish community. If you say the same thing about the Jews or Israel, you are considered an anti-Semite and ostracized. It is good that this feeling of justice is so strong, but, for me, there is no difference between the yarmulke and the headscarf."
What impact does this generalization have, in your view?
"When I talk with Muslims, I see that they are hardly preoccupied with the question of faith, but because of Wilders they feel compelled to take a position. Either they live in fear or they harden and radicalize. Last week it became too much for me. Muslims are pushed to the brink, and that is dangerous. The Muslim community itself, moreover, must also publicly speak out against terrorism."
What do you hope to achieve?
"I hope that we will get support from the whole Jewish community. At least that's how it should be. Because we can recognize this problem like no one else."
http://thisisbabylon.net/2008/03/24/dutch-jewish-producer-geert-wilders-is-a-bigot/
QUOTINGS are NOT your Solutions... have you an ability to express your Beliefs without depending on someone else's version of what Migh or might not be ACCURACY??? -
@ Susan Duclos
Update: The movie trailer is out and can be found at The Jawa Report, scroll down.
Thanks.. -
@ Bocephalus
De Winter: Geert Wilders Is a Bigot
by Ellen de Visser
AMSTERDAM - TV Producer Harry de Winter, President of the board of the foundation Een Ander Joods Geluid [Another Jewish Voice], today placed a remarkable advertisement on the front page of the newspaper Volkskrant. De Winter puts Geert Wilders's criticism of Muslims in the same category as anti-Semitism.
The ad as it appeared in Dutch
Als Wilders hetzelfde over Joden (en het Oude Testament) had gezegd als wat hij nu over Moslims (en de Koran) uitkraamt, dan was hij allang afgeserveerd en veroordeeld wegens antisemitisme.
IN ENGLISH:
The ad reads:
"If Wilders had said the same thing about Jews (and the Old Testament) as he does about Muslims (and the Koran), he would have been ostracized a long time ago and accused of anti-Semitism."
What is your message?
"We Jews know better than anyone else what this sort of discrimination can lead to. Wilders claims that the Muslims must be dealt with and that the Koran is a fascist book. That's how the persecution of Jews once started, by generalization. Therefore, it is time for a sharper criticism from the Jewish community. If you say the same thing about the Jews or Israel, you are considered an anti-Semite and ostracized. It is good that this feeling of justice is so strong, but, for me, there is no difference between the yarmulke and the headscarf."
What impact does this generalization have, in your view?
"When I talk with Muslims, I see that they are hardly preoccupied with the question of faith, but because of Wilders they feel compelled to take a position. Either they live in fear or they harden and radicalize. Last week it became too much for me. Muslims are pushed to the brink, and that is dangerous. The Muslim community itself, moreover, must also publicly speak out against terrorism."
What do you hope to achieve?
"I hope that we will get support from the whole Jewish community. At least that's how it should be. Because we can recognize this problem like no one else."
http://thisisbabylon.net/2008/03/24/dutch-jewish-producer-geert-wilders-is-a-bigot/
And I suppose that Some are expected to believe that anything printed in a nEWSPAPER in a rather LIBERAL nation can be Taken as TRUTH??? -
@ Susan Duclos
Update: The movie trailer is out and can be found at The Jawa Report, scroll down.
Thanks, Susan. Watching that clip gave me the worst feeling... -
@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Thanks, Susan. Watching that clip gave me the worst feeling...
No matter what, his film cannot match the hype it has been given and had people not caused such a fuss about it being released, barely anyone would have even noticed it when it was.
Now everyone will.
What those protesting the films release has done, is give Wilders tremendous exposure and more free publicity and advertising than he ever could have afforded himself.
What Network Solutions has done is give him American free advertising now. 383 News stories, thousands of blog posts and hundreds of calls, emails and communications against the company.
It wasn't the film that created the fuss, it was the censorship of Network Solutions as well as media that refused to play the film and be done with it.
As you know from being an American, we tend to be very vocal when we see free speech violated, even if that free speech is offensive speech.
But to create a firestorm over an 11-15 minute short film, that probably wouldn't have even been noticed by the majority of Americans had all the fuss not been made....seems to me as ironic, for lack of a better word. -
Agreed, Susan. And most of us wouldn't have even bothered to watch the trailer in the first place...and I certainly won't ever watch the movie now.
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@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Agreed, Susan. And most of us wouldn't have even bothered to watch the trailer in the first place...and I certainly won't ever watch the movie now.
The thing is, because of this whole censorship thing, many will watch it, just to see what the fuss has been about.
The Wall Street Journal has an excellent article about the whole issue called, " Islam and Free Speech."
Reasonable men in free societies regard Geert Wilders's anti-Muslim rhetoric, and films like "Fitna," as disrespectful of the religious sensitivities of members of the Islamic faith. But free societies also hold freedom of speech to be a fundamental human right. We don't silence, jail or kill people with whom we disagree just because their ideas are offensive or disturbing. We believe that when such ideas are openly debated, they sink of their own weight and attract few followers.
That is the point I have been trying to make. It isn't even about the movie although some would rather it be...it is about the freedom to say and express what you like and when it is offensive, generally it is rejected.
I saw an interview with Wilders and the man doesn't say anything save a comment or two that any reasonable person would agree with, but the whole point is, he has the right to say it and to be judged as an ass...LOL
Interestingly enough, although offensive, according to the Dutch News, Dutch foreign affairs minister Maxime Verhagen says the cabinet has no plans to ask the courts to ban the controversial film due to be released this month by anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders, reports ANP news service on Wednesday.
Anyone can try to distract from the issue by pointing out the Wilders is an extremists himself, but the true, underlying issue is freedom of speech. -
...but the true, underlying issue is freedom of speech.
Exactly. I wouldn't watch it simply because I don't know the language and therefore couldn't understand the points he is trying to put across. Maybe the jist...but that's ify. -
@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Exactly. I wouldn't watch it simply because I don't know the language and therefore couldn't understand the points he is trying to put across. Maybe the jist...but that's ify.
True but as you said, just the trailer gave you a feeling... so the visuals of it would definitely make a point, BUT, what Wilders doesn't do, in interviews and speeches (I doubt in his movie either, but I haven't seen it yet, so I don't know) is separate peace loving moderate Muslims that just want to practice their religion in a peaceful way, from extremists that sympathize with terrorists.
I have documented dozen of instances where moderate Muslims publicly denounce and condemn extremists actions and accuse them of hijacking their religion.
I haven't seen Wilders acknowledge them.
That is where the freedom oof speech and expression comes in...he is free to show his movie, he is free to give his opinion and the rest of us are free to judge him on what he does say and what he doesn't.
Its is all about Freedom of speech, censorship and freedom of expression.....his to show his film and ours to reject it for the reasons stated above...but when that freedom, his and ours, is violated, this is the type of reaction that companies such as Network Solutions can expect and rightly so.
The latest news is that the Wilders is expected to accept the offer of those that want to host his film and the proposed release is about April 1, 2008. -
Where is the movie to be released...there, here, both?
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I have heard that if the movie is released here, that some Islamic group is aiming to sue for censure in US Courts... that was last week but nothing since...
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@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Where is the movie to be released...there, here, both?
Everywhere, via the World Wide Web.
Projections are that it will be going viral within an hour or two of its release. Almost all of us will have a copy as well as the original release URL.
Unfortunately, his DVD of it, is also expected to sell well and not because of the content, but because of the fuss created about the alleged content.
I say again, it is ironic that his film wold not have even been known about by most people, had the riots, death threats and violence perpetrated to try to stop its eventual release, not been committed. -
@ redhawk
I have heard that if the movie is released here, that some Islamic group is aiming to sue for censure in US Courts... that was last week but nothing since...
Threats will continue as will the violent means to try to intimidate...the problem with that, is those that are doing it are giving credence to Wilders assertions as well as free advertising.. -
@ Susan Duclos
Everywhere, via the World Wide Web.
Projections are that it will be going viral within an hour or two of its release. Almost all of us will have a copy as well as the original release URL.
Unfortunately, his DVD of it, is also expected to sell well and not because of the content, but because of the fuss created about the alleged content.
I say again, it is ironic that his film wold not have even been known about by most people, had the riots, death threats and violence perpetrated to try to stop its eventual release, not been committed.
That is the FInal Issue.. freedom of speech which Islamos DO NOT WANT in the Style of Iran.. Iraq.. Taliban etc... However the DVD/Movie or whatever just Might Ring the bells of awakening in some Closed minds to the real and present danger... Add a Comment
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Network Solutions Censors Geert Wilders' Film and Czech Party Offers to Host "Fitna"
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