Fitna continues to draw protests across Islamic world

31 March 2008

Following the release of Geert Wilders’ film Fitna, a group of 53 Jordanian MPs have delivered a petition to their government in Amman, demanding that it break all diplomatic ties with the Netherlands. They also want the Dutch ambassador expelled from the country. The Jordanian parliament consists of 110 members, 60 of whom were present when the petition was delivered.

Several Jordanian civilian organizations, including unions and media groups, have added their voices to the protest. They want to see action taken against the Netherlands and are demanding a boycott of Dutch products.

There were protests against the film across the Islamic world. In Iran,The Dutch ambassador was summoned earlier today to offer an official explanation. Until now, Pakistan has been the only country to summon a Dutch envoy over the film.

Dozens of Indonesians held a demonstration outside the Dutch embassy in Jakarta. The protesters threw eggs at the building while shouting slogans such as: "Holland go to Hell". They called the Freedom Party leader a Christian terrorist and demanded that the Dutch authorities prosecute him.

On Sunday a demonstration against Fitna was held in central Java.

The controversy has prompted Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen to publish an article in the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, calling on people "to keep their heads cool and relations warm". He also underlined the need for dialogue to explain that freedom of speech and religion are human rights enshrined in the Dutch constitution.