Italian TV to screen Dutch film despite Muslim protests

[Grolsch]

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John Hooper in Rome

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Wednesday May 11, 2005
Guardian

Italy’s state broadcaster, RAI, will tomorrow defy protests from Muslims and reported threats to one of its executives when it becomes the first leading foreign TV network to show the controversial Dutch film Submission. The film’s director, Theo van Gogh, was murdered last November. An alleged Muslim extremist has been charged with the killing.

The decision to screen substantial extracts from the film, which is fiercely critical of the treatment of women in Islam, followed a plea last week from Italian MPs from all leading parties. They said broadcasting the film would contribute “to artistic freedom and freedom of expression”.

In a letter to President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the Islamic Council of Turin called for the broadcast to be cancelled. The letter, signed by two imams, said the content of the film was “detrimental to Islamic traditions and customs”.

The imams warned that showing the film could create “new and drastic tensions that could induce the most fanatical to commit high-profile actions endangering public security”. Copies of their letter were sent to, among others, the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and the Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5190920-111093,00.html

The imams can’t hide their barbarity for much longer. As more and more muslims pour into europe, its plain for everyone to see. Its just that the liberal media have put the populace to sleep but it looks like even they are beginning to wake up.

 

[Franze]

I have seen this film, I saw for a homenage to Theo Van Gogh, he died for this film, It´s hard this film and well I´ll say that is anti-islamic but the director was killed, the anti-christians directors are quiet in their houses, the anti-islamic not, they have to learn the freedom of expression. Now.

 

[David_Paul]

Italian MPs from all leading parties . . .said broadcasting the film would contribute “to artistic freedom and freedom of expression”.

Afraid to say the film is factual?

 

[Thea]

It was certainly wrong from a Christian perspective and I would imagine from the moderate Muslim perspective to have murdered anyone for a film. Nevertheless I feel sympathy for the Islamic moderates who have to stomach seeing their faith put on show in a very negative light by film-makers. The very words ‘artistic freedom’ and ‘freedom of expression’ make my skin crawl these days. I don’t agree either of course with cruel treatment of women. It’s a tricky one. Yet that the Imans wrote to the Vatican shows they expect some solidarity with us, and I can understand why. We had a lot of support from the Muslim council of GB in standing against the horrible Jerry Springer musical that was broadcast by the BBC. Similarly good support against abortion and standing with Catholics on other life issues.

I would support them in saying this film should not be broadcast.

 

[Grolsch]

I’m in the camp that if its factual then I support it. But if its more mindless anti-religious rhetoric then it should not be aired. Not having seen it, I suppose I can’t really comment on it.