Liveleak Caves to Threats of Violence Over "Fitna"
Never fear, we have our very own copy of Fitna for your viewing pleasure
below. The genie is out of the bottle and can never be put back in. Spread
the word!
Video follows this message of explanation just posted at Liveleak:
"Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill
informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly
lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been
left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers.
This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to
place the safety and well being of our staff above all else. We would
like to thank the thousands of people, from all backgrounds and
religions, who gave us their support. They realised LiveLeak.com is a
vehicle for many opinions and not just for the support of one.
Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a
discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can
accept one anothers culture.
We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end
the price was too high."
Thanks to BP Monaco.
Here's the vid.
YouTube Part I (probably won't last long)
YouTube Part II (probably won't last long)
MEDIA
MATTERS
Dutch
MP's anti-Quran film debuts on Web
17-minute
'documentary' juxtaposes images of Islam's holy book with terror attacks
Posted: March 27, 2008
9:30 pm Eastern
Defying the wishes of the government of the Netherlands, a Dutch MP has
posted his 17-minute documentary on the Quran, juxtaposing images of Islam's
holy book with terror attacks and bombings by Muslim extremists.
Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, released "Fitna," an
Arabic word meaning strife, on the political party's website today, but it
disappeared a short time later due to "technical difficulties,"
reported the London Times.
The film is currently viewable on the British video-sharing website,
LiveLeak.com, in Dutch and English.
Wilder, an outspoken critic of the "Islamization" of the West,
released the film after weeks of debate couched in terms of free speech and
religious bigotry as well as fears of violence like that following the Danish
publication of cartoons depicting Muhammed.
Wilders said he understood Muslims could be upset by the film but said that
was not his purpose in producing it.
"It remains widely within the framework of the law ... My film was not
made to provoke violence," he said.
Plans to put the film on the Internet
were briefly stalled earlier this week when the domain registrar, Network
Solutions, refused to host Wilder's Internet domain.
That controversy, as well as threats by Muslim groups to seek an
injunction, did not deter LiveLeak.com, which issued the following statement:
"LiveLeak.com has a strict stance on remaining unbiased and allowing
freedom of speech so far as the law and our rules allow. There was no legal
reason to refuse Geert Wilders the right to post his film and it is not our
place to censor people based on an emotive response."
(Story continues below)
The film has been condemned by Wilder's government. The Dutch foreign
minister, Maxime Verhagen, called it irresponsible after rioting Muslims
killed over 50 people following publication of the Danish cartoons.
"The film equates Islam with violence. We reject that
interpretation," Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch prime minister, said.
"We believe it serves no purpose other than to offend," he added.
Early critics had expressed fears Wilder would show a copy
of the Quran being destroyed in his film but the ending offered a slight
surprise.
As someone leafs through the Quran, a sound of tearing is heard.
"The sound you heard was from a page [being torn out] of the phone
book. It is not up to me, but up to the Muslims themselves to tear the
spiteful verses from the Quran," the screen text read. "Stop
Islamization. Defend our freedom," it concluded.
