The Philippine government condemned a Dutch lawmaker's anti-Quran film Wednesday for inciting hatred toward Islam, the Associated Press reported. A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines is «in solidarity with the Islamic world in denouncing the offensive contents of the film «Fitna,» or «Ordeal» in Arabic. The film's «association of Islam with acts of violence is defamatory and serves to heighten misperceptions about a religion of peace,» the statement said. The film by right-wing Dutch legislator Geert Wilders was posted on a Web site last month. The Philippine statement said freedom of expression «should always be done with the attendant responsibility.» «Nobody should, in his or her exercise of this right, slander, libel or defame any particular religion or creed,» it said. «Nevertheless, we wish to advance our call for sobriety in light of the widespread adverse reactions to the film,» the statement said.
