It will not have gone unnoticed that, after much debate and controversy, the long anticipated Dutch Parliamentarian Wilders’ anti-Islamic film Fitna has finally been released. His approach concerning Islam and the Qur’an, as conveyed through this film, has insulted many people, Muslims in particular. The film equates Islam with violence. The Dutch governement rejects this interpretation, just like the vast majority of Muslims rejects extremism and violence.

The approach taken in the film Fitna contradicts all that the Dutch Government envisages for and aspires to in its society, this being a society in which people can live together peacefully, showing mutual respect, as well as respect for the fundamental values of the law of state and guaranteeing safety for its citizens whilst maintaining the freedom of expression and religion. The Netherlands is well known for its tradition of respect, tolerance and responsibility. Offending the feelings and beliefs of groups within this society and beyond on purpose is clearly not a part of that tradition. Freedom to express opinions and showing mutual respect, however, are a part of this tradition. The Dutch government will abide by its tradition and calls upon everyone else to act in a similar spirit.
  
Freedom of expression is not unrestricted in the sense that in the Netherlands its limits are defined by the law. The Dutch Government is investigating the possibility of Mr. Wilders having committed criminal offences and the Public Prosecution Service will finally make a decision as to whether or not to prosecute.
 
It is clear that the Dutch Government does not stand alone in rejecting this film. An overwhelming majority of Dutch parliamentarians has rejected and criticized it, the main exception being the party of Mr. Wilders himself. The Dutch media, too, have turned their backs on this film, as has become clear through the fact that no Dutch television station has declared itself willing to broadcast it. As a result, Mr. Wilders has found his only other alternative for the distribution of Fitna in the internet.
 
Finally, the Dutch Government wishes to emphasize expressly, again, that it does not share the approach of Mr. Wilders. As the Dutch parliamentarian majority, as well as the majority of Dutch society, including its media have also distanced themselves from Mr. Wilders, his opinions concerning Islam cannot to be taken as representative of the Netherlands in any way.

The Dutch Government rejects the anti-Islamic approach of this film, and stands open for dialogue whilst calling for freedom of expression and mutual respect. The Netherlands wish to stay in open contact with all those who are in favor of a peaceful dialogue. Only through these means will we be able to cooperate successfully in building towards a society more firmly grounded in mutual understanding and respect, elements which are so precious in our present-day world.

 
Dr. Nikolaos van Dam
Ambassador of the Netherlands in Jakarta