PRESS RELEASE REGARDING A DUTCH MOVIE Silence will be the best response
Mr. Geert Wilders will launch very soon a short movie, about which nobody knows anything, where it is said that he is going to unveil the true negative essence of Islam, the unhealthy character of the Prophet or maybe the Qur’an’s insanities. Whatever is the content, one understands it is a pure provocation! Silence would be our best response!
The noise surrounding this movie’s launch and the public statements of Mr Geert Wilders are always so extreme that anyone can understand his objective is to provoke a reaction and to get media coverage and attention. For the time being he seems to succeed beyond hope: everybody speaks about a movie nobody has watched being afraid (or hoping) the scandal. M. Geert Wilders is a populist: having no serious real social policy, he is trying to get voters by feeding and using their fears! This is so clear that the Muslims must pass over : Mr Geert Wilders is now revealing his true nature and the best response is to ignore him. The worst case scenario he can expect is indeed not reaction… silence!
Yet we know that in these times of tensions, anything could happen. Governments in the Muslim majority countries, organisations, politicians can use it for the sake of other political stakes. As it happened with the Danish cartoon crisis, some governments and/or religious organizations (radical or not) instrumentalised the whole story to mobilize the people either to divert them from the true problems in their own countries or to get popular support by attacking "the West" represented as "the enemy". An uncontrolled over-emotional reaction is always possible and some can shape it through some inflammatory statements or kinds of a "protest orchestration" (by some governments or organizations). Thus no one can predict where it is going to end.
People have learned from the cartoon crisis and many will try to calm down the atmosphere but some other presidents or leaders have other agendas and this kind of crisis is very much an opportunity. Actually it is exactly what Mr Geert Wilders himself is looking for! One may hope that the fact that Mr Geert Wilders is known (and that it is clearly a provocation) would help the people to understand it is a trap and they must refuse to be driven into it. This would be the best case scenario.
The Dutch government need to have a preemptive policy built on a clear discourse that the government is not supporting (or even rejecting or condemning) the film and its content but it does not want to interfere in the name of freedom of expression. If any ambassador or politician from a Muslim majority country is asking for an audience, she or he should be received and this positioning should be clearly stated. Wilders should not be prevented from speaking, or be put in jail (as some have suggested) : one should only respond to his argument when there is an argument and simply ignore him when he is acting out of an orchestrated provocation.
Thanks for the information before hand. It’s quite clear that Muslims should react diligently to the attack and try not to repeat the same extreme violence as was the case with the Danish cartoon.
However, i think remaining silent won’t be a solution to the response. Because many of our neighbor non muslims will have many questions about it and will desperately need some answers from us.
We should rather seize the occasion to explain them the truth about the issue and therefore call them to the true path in a wise and inoffensif manner.
What i mean is that, if muslims react with the aim to avoid violence and explain the true meaning of Islam in contrast to the projected video, this will rather be a victory to Islam and a very big blow to the video’s author.
They do want to extinguish the light of Islam by their words and deeds, but Allah is the All knowing of their trics and will prevail his religion over all those filthy attacks.
Every of their attacks is an open door for many revert muslims! Let us no doubt about it!!
As a Moroccan Muslim, I think silence will indeed be the best response.
Only when the storm has passed, should we address the Dutch people (maybe via the media) and state our grievances in a civilised manner.
Since we are forwarned (and we know the actions are pure provocation), we should use our head this time. When misguided people realise that when they provoke us (at a time of their choosing) we don’t react, they will, hopefully, stop such childish acts.
I, for one, respect the right of free speech – even if it is used against me.
So no matter what somebody says, I will pray to God to give Muslims strength and the misguided the wisdom to realise that we are all brothers and a peaceful co-existence is the only way for all involved.
Peace to all
Omar
Peace be with you,
I read on other sites that the Dutch are preparing heightened security & new levels of terrorist alert in preparation for the backlash that they expect from the Muslim community. This is both at home and from abroad. Dutch nationals abroad are being advised to register with their embassies and to take extra care. When you read this, it makes one feel that the brother’s advice is a good one. Not to react, not to become emotional – even when these people try to hurt us through those who are dear to us. The Din of Allah swt is not hurt by the poor behaviour of the ignorant. We must be patient.
However, I also have some sympathy with the brother who advises us to take the opportunity to inform people of the truth of the message. This is our overwhelming responsibility and we can use this as an opportunity. I remember many discussions about issues with non-partisan non-Muslim people about what they see on the news. After 10 minutes their sympathies change from neutral to against the abuse of free speech that we see today aimed at provoking a response that will give them a sense of justification.
Wasalaam
Husman
YM UK; Bradford
A non Muslim by essence does not believe in Allah, the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (peace & blessing of Allah be upon Him).
Thus s/he is bound to have a negative opinion of Islam.
Let her/him voice her/his negative opinions.
When is comes to purposeful provocations, Muslims have to be careful and intelligent.
Instead of lamenting that the name of the Holy Prophet has been soiled, Muslims should rather channel their energies towards urgent challenge facing the Muslim community.
After all it is more insulting to the Holy Prophet seeing young Muslims taking drugs than a film
Please pray Allah for forgiveness and guidance.
Amen.