By NNN-Bernama,
Dubai : The Organization 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 says 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 here Tuesday.
International news agenies have reported that the public prosecutor’s office would not charge right-wing legislator Geert Wilders with inciting hatred for his film.
According to the reports, the prosecutor said the film and statements which 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 Observatory on Islamophobia 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 considered 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.
The film had sparked protests in the Muslim world when it appeared on the Internet in March.