By WAM
New York : United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday issued a strong condemnation of the anti-Qur’an film “Fitna” by Dutch politican Geert Wilders.
Ki Moon said he condemns, “in the strongest of terms, the airing of Geert Wilders’ offensively anti-Islamic film.” The UN Chief said there is no justification for hate speech or incitement to violence. The right of free expression is not at stake here.
Ki Moon acknowledged the efforts of the Government of the Netherlands to stop the broadcast of this film and appeal for calm to those understandably offended by it. Freedom must always be accompanied by social responsibility.
The United Nations, he said, is the centre of the world’s efforts to advance mutual respect, understanding and dialogue.
He called for the recognition of the fact that the real fault line is not between Muslim and Western societies, as some would have us believe, but between small minorities of extremists, on different sides, with a vested interest in stirring hostility and conflict