http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=343473 uly 02, 2008 19:36 PM
OIC Body Frustrated With Decision Not To Charge 'Fitna' Producer DUBAI, July 2 (Bernama) -- The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Observatory on Islamophobia has expressed frustration over the decision of the public prosecutor of the Netherlands to drop charges against a Dutch legislator and producer of the blasphemous film titled "Fitna" for inciting hatred. Its spokesman said that despite admitting that the film was "hurtful and insulting (to Muslims), the public prosecutor failed to see that the work constituted an incitement to hostility or hatred against the Muslim community in the Netherlands or hundreds of millions of other Muslims. "In so doing, the Dutch public prosecutor seems to ignore the fine line of `responsibility' separating the freedom of expression from incitement to hatred, hostility and discrimination," the spokesman said in a statement. AP reported that the public prosecutor's office would not charge right-wing legislator Geert Wilders with inciting hatred for his film. According to the report, the prosecutor said the film and statements Wilders wrote in the Dutch newspapers were "hurtful and insulting but not criminal" and that he made his anti-Muslim remarks in the context of a legitimate debate, and he could not be charged for incitement or discrimination. The OIC spokesman said the decision amounted to encouraging and promoting irresponsible media persecution and nursing a grudge, hostility and hatred against Muslims in total disregard of international law and conventions which consider that "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitute discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law." "This attitude of the authorities in the Netherlands is not conducive to facilitating dialogue or reaching understanding on sensitive issues which entails disagreements and risks," the spokesman added. It was reported that the film had sparked protests in the Muslim world when it appeared on the internet in March. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/