28 mrt 2008 | Minister-president Balkenende heeft een reactie gegeven naar aanleiding van de film Fitna van Tweede Kamerlid Wilders (PVV), die vandaag op internet is uitgekomen.

De verklaring van minister-president Balkenende:

Namens de Nederlandse regering reageer ik op de internetfilm van de heer Wilders.

De film toont beelden van gruweldaden en stelt de Islam en de Koran daarvoor verantwoordelijk. De regering veroordeelt zulke daden en de plegers ervan.

In de film wordt de Islam gelijk gesteld met het plegen van gruweldaden. Wij verwerpen deze voorstelling van zaken. Het overgrote deel van de moslims verwerpt extremisme en geweld. De slachtoffers zijn juist vaak moslims.

Wij betreuren het dan ook dat de heer Wilders deze film naar buiten heeft gebracht. Wij zien niet welk doel deze film dient, anders dan het kwetsen van gevoelens. Deze mogen overigens nooit een excuus zijn voor agressie en bedreigingen. De regering voelt zich gesteund door de evenwichtige eerste reacties van moslimorganisaties in Nederland.

Moslims, christenen en mensen met andere levensovertuigingen kunnen heel goed met elkaar leven. Het probleem is niet de godsdienst, maar misbruik van godsdienst om haat en onverdraagzaamheid te zaaien. Daarom vragen wij respect voor ieders diepste overtuigingen.

We kennen de zorgen en gevoelens die in de internationale moslimgemeenschap leven met betrekking tot deze film. In de afgelopen tijd hebben we contact gelegd met velen binnen en buiten ons land om het onderlinge begrip te versterken. Daar gaan we volop mee door.

De Nederlandse regering staat voor een samenleving waarin vrijheid en respect hand in hand gaan. Zo’n samenleving vraagt inzet en vastberadenheid. Extremisme bestrijden we. Wie de wet overtreedt pakken we hard aan. Laten we samenwerken aan het oplossen van problemen. Laten we bruggen slaan naar de ander en werken aan vertrouwen. Laten we vooroordelen overwinnen. Dat moet lukken.

Statement of the Dutch Foreign Ministry

The Hague, Netherlands

March 5, 2008

The Dutch government shares the concerns that have been raised over the past weeks about the possible release of a film by parliamentarian Mr Wilders.

Mr Wilders does not represent the opinion of the Dutch government on this issue. Nor does his conception of Islam represent the perspective or policy of the Dutch government in any way.

All people in the Netherlands have the right to express their opinions without the prior consent of the authorities. This is one of the most valued rights in Dutch society. The person exercising this freedom however has the responsibility for how it is exercised. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs urged Mr Wilders last week [on February 29] to take this into account.

Taking into account the Dutch constitution the government sees no possibilities to prohibit the film before broadcasting. After the film has been broadcast, the government will investigate the possibility that Mr Wilders has committed criminal offences and the Public Prosecution Service will take a decision whether or not to prosecute.

Islam is an important factor in how people define their own identity and the identity of others. Political differences are being presented increasingly as expressions of religious differences. This has led some to see Islam as a threat. Obviously this is wrong. Nobody gains anything by blaming a religion for violence and oppression. People, not religions, are responsible.

Muslims play an active part in Dutch society: two members of the Dutch government are Muslims. The Muslim community in the Netherlands has proven its maturity and its awareness of the context in which debate takes place in our country.

The Dutch government respects all religions, including Islam, and it will continue to combat hatred, discrimination and intolerance, as well as extremists on all sides.

On Wednesday [March 5] the ambassadors of the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Countries accredited to the Netherlands have been informed of our views. We expect all governments to take their responsibility in protecting Dutch citizens, property and institutions. We must all do our best to help de-escalate the situation.

Report on  Muslims in the Netherlands

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A great deal of attention has been focused on the internet film about the Koran planned by Dutch MP Geert Wilders. The planned film is also leading to questions about the position of Muslims in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is mentioned, for instance, in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference’s report on Islamophobia, which was discussed at the Conference’s summit in Dakar on 13 and 14 March 2008.

The Dutch FORUM Institute for Multicultural Development has drawn up a report with facts and figures on the position of Muslims in the Netherlands (www.forum.nl/pdf/factbook-islam-en.pdf). FORUM, a non-governmental organisation that is independent of the Government, has sent the report to the OIC chairman.

Responsibility for the facts and figures presented in the report lies not with the Dutch Government, but with FORUM as a non-governmental organisation

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