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According to diverse sources, the government is making plenty of preparation for the possible severe reactions to Geert Wilders' (Party of Freedom) announced film about the Koran. His protection, already strong, will be stepped up.
The Amsterdam police has held talks this month with imams and other influential people in the Muslim community in order to be ready for reactions. There's also a scenario written out in case of large-scale public-order problems. The Hague and Utrecht has taken specific measures.
Wilders' film, which contains offensive pictures for Muslims, would probably be broadcast on TV Jan. 25, during the time dedicated for political parties, as part of the Party for Freedom broadcasts. Justice is studying whether the film's broadcast can be prevented.
According to one source, policy makers are taking into account that the film will cause more commotion than the publication of the Mohammed cartoons in Denmark. The cartoons in Jyllands-Posten had led to protests all over the Muslim world.
When it was leaked that Wilders wanted to release an anti-Koran film, three ministers warned him of the eventual consequences. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since informed all diplomatic posts, in order to explain in other countries that the cabinet distances itself from the film.
The government's nervousness has increased because Wilders has till now shown no willingness to hold back his film. It's being checked out whether Wilder would need a new, specially secured residence and if Wilder's party members should also get protection.
The Amsterdam police doesn't see a reason to act against the spread of a pamphlet in which Muslims are called to oppose a film in which the "Noble Koran is ridiculed and humiliated".
The pamphlet of the radical-Muslim "freedom party" Hizb ut-Tahrir was given out in Amsterdam, the Hague, Haarlem and IJmuiden.
His name is not mentioned in the pamphlet, but it is known that parliamentarian Geert Wilders of the Party for Freedom will show a film at the end of January about "the abuses in the Koran". According to the authors, "the youth of Hizb ut-Tahrir in the Netherlands", "defending the Noble Koran is a Muslim obligation".
A police spokesperson said that they can't establish any offense and Wilders is also not mentioned by name, though the police is paying attention to it, just as all other development regarding Wilders.
According to a spokesperson of the Zeeburg neighborhood, there is no objection to the pamphlet. As long as it doesn't call for violence, anybody can say or write what they want. There's opposition to the film also in parliament.
In 2005 the cabinet said that Hizb ut-Tahrir can form a danger to the democratic order.
Sources: Volkskrant (Dutch), Parool (Dutch)
See also: Netherlands: Wilders complains to police about clip, Netherlands: Hizb ut-Tahrir youth in campaign against Geert Wilders , Netherlands: Concern about Wilders film, Gouda: Death threats against Wilders, Netherlands: Muslim Council "fears the worst"
According to one source, policy makers are taking into account that the film will cause more commotion than the publication of the Mohammed cartoons in Denmark. The cartoons in Jyllands-Posten had led to protests all over the Muslim world.
When it was leaked that Wilders wanted to release an anti-Koran film, three ministers warned him of the eventual consequences. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since informed all diplomatic posts, in order to explain in other countries that the cabinet distances itself from the film.
The government's nervousness has increased because Wilders has till now shown no willingness to hold back his film. It's being checked out whether Wilder would need a new, specially secured residence and if Wilder's party members should also get protection.
Wilders wants to show in his film that "wretched things" from the Koran are still being practiced. Muslim organizations, from moderate to fundamentalist, have expressed concern about the film.
---The Amsterdam police doesn't see a reason to act against the spread of a pamphlet in which Muslims are called to oppose a film in which the "Noble Koran is ridiculed and humiliated".
The pamphlet of the radical-Muslim "freedom party" Hizb ut-Tahrir was given out in Amsterdam, the Hague, Haarlem and IJmuiden.
His name is not mentioned in the pamphlet, but it is known that parliamentarian Geert Wilders of the Party for Freedom will show a film at the end of January about "the abuses in the Koran". According to the authors, "the youth of Hizb ut-Tahrir in the Netherlands", "defending the Noble Koran is a Muslim obligation".
A police spokesperson said that they can't establish any offense and Wilders is also not mentioned by name, though the police is paying attention to it, just as all other development regarding Wilders.
According to a spokesperson of the Zeeburg neighborhood, there is no objection to the pamphlet. As long as it doesn't call for violence, anybody can say or write what they want. There's opposition to the film also in parliament.
In 2005 the cabinet said that Hizb ut-Tahrir can form a danger to the democratic order.
Sources: Volkskrant (Dutch), Parool (Dutch)
See also: Netherlands: Wilders complains to police about clip, Netherlands: Hizb ut-Tahrir youth in campaign against Geert Wilders , Netherlands: Concern about Wilders film, Gouda: Death threats against Wilders, Netherlands: Muslim Council "fears the worst"
