Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on Saturday condemned a controversial offensive film by a Dutch lawmaker. Ihsanoglu issued a strongly-worded criticism of the film, titled “Fitna” (which means strife or sedition in Arabic), launched over the Internet by Dutch parliament member Geert Wilders. The film has caused considerable controversy over the past few weeks for its content, which defames and denigrates the Holy Qur'an and labels Muslims as terrorists. “The film is a deliberate act of discrimination against Muslims, incitement of hatred and an act of defamation of religions,” said Professor Ihsanoglu in a statement released to the press by the OIC. “[This] is solely intended to incite and provoke unrest and intolerance among people of different religious beliefs and to jeopardize world peace and stability.” The OIC chief further said that “when the international community, including the Dutch government, had rejected Wilders' film, and that its broadcast was turned down by Dutch national as well as international media, Wilders has openly defied the will of the international community by having it released through an internet website.” “This action once again vindicated the OIC's call for a consensus on a binding UN resolution and for national legislations against actions such as those of Geert Wilders and other marginal groups who are actively involved in inciting hatred and intolerance through the defamation of religions by abusing freedom of expression.” Professor Ihsanoglu urged the international community to condemn the film's release and the Dutch government to complete its legal inquiry and examine steps to prosecute the author of the documentary under the Dutch law. __
