AMSTERDAM (Agencies)
About one thousand people protested in central Amsterdam on Saturday against right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders and the imminent release of his anti-Quran film, as a U.S.-based web service, which Wilders planned to use to show his film, said that it had inactivated the site due to complaints.
"This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy," the company said on the website bearing the name “Fitna”.
Wilders, who has given few details about his 15-minute film, has said he plans to release 'Fitna' on the Internet before the end of the month after Dutch broadcasters declined to show it. Fitna is an Arabic word that means strife.
In another development, about one thousand people dared the freezing cold and drizzling rain in central Amsterdam to protest what they saw as Wilders’ “racism”.
They held placards that said "Enough is enough" and "Stop the witch-hunt against Muslims".
Pop and hip-hop groups entertained the crowd in between speeches by social groups.
"We can no longer remain silent. There is a climate of hate and fear in the Netherlands," said spokesman Rene Danen from anti-racism organization Nederland Bekent Kleur (the Netherlands recognizes color differences), which had organized the protest.
There should be restrictions on what Wilders can say, said Rieke, a 61-year-old Amsterdam arts teacher who declined to give her last name.
"I think it is embarrassing what Wilders says, for example about tearing up the Quran. It is a very bad example to people to let him say whatever he wants," she said.
Wilders' film has already triggered fury in the Muslim world. The Dutch government has distanced itself from his views, fearing a backlash against the country amongst Muslims similar to that against Denmark in 2006 after newspapers there published the Prophet Muhammad cartoons.
Wilders still plans to show his film despite the setback, Dutch agency ANP reported.
"If need be, I will personally distribute DVDs in the Dam," ANP quoted him as saying. The Dam is the central square in Amsterdam, popular with both the Dutch and tourists. |
