Dutch court to hear challenge against film criticizing Islam News
Dutch court to hear challenge against film criticizing Islam

[JURIST] A district court in the Netherlands agreed Friday to hear a lawsuit filed by the Dutch Islamic Federation seeking to ban the release of a film that criticizes the Quran. Dutch right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders [personal website, in Dutch] plans to release a 15-minute movie titled "Fitna," said to depict Islam in a highly negative light. Dutch officials fear that the movie could lead to protests similar to those that took place after a Danish newspaper published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad [JURIST news archive]. The complaint is set to be heard March 28.

It is unclear how the movie will be aired as no television stations have agreed to carry it due to high security costs. Wilders reserved a website for the film, but YouTube [corporate website] and other video-sharing websites have not yet said whether they will carry the movie as Wilders has not released the contents. Last month, Pakistan blocked access to YouTube's website [JURIST report] because it had posted a movie trailer for Wilders' film. AP has more.

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