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4 April 2008
THE NETHERLAND - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende is beginning legal proceedings against the weekly magazine Opinio.
He is demanding that the magazine rectify an article about a speech in which he supposedly called Islam "a problem". Balkenende denies that such a speech was ever made.
Opinio reports that Balkenende met prominent members of the Christian Democrat party on Sunday and told them: "It is not radical Islam or Islamist terrorism or fundamentalism in general - no, I say that that big problem is Islam itself."
Christian Democrat sources deny that any such meeting took place.
Balkenende himself says that he was with his family on that day. He has accused Opinio of irresponsibility, particularly with regard to a subject such as this.
Opinio, which calls itself a left wing-conservative magazine, thinks that the prime minister has over-reacted and says that it is highly likely that these are his real opinions.
[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]
It saddens me to see Islam denigrated in Europe repeatedly.It doesnt take anything away fom Islam but only shows the European mindset.It is worth someone's while to create controversies in the Dutch media.Maybe the Dutch are desperate to express their hate for the Muslim community living with them.The Dutch surely are contributing to terrorism by making a documentary like 'fitna'.
It saddens me the way Islam treats non-Muslims in Islamic Countries. At least here in the West Muslims are free to build mosques. In most Muslim countries building of churches or temples are prohibited and people are often forced to convert to Islam. Just look at the so called moderate Eygpts treatment of the Coptic Christians - forced to live amongst the refuse of Cairo and forbidden from building churches(they have been forced to escavate a pit into which they preform their religious duties) or about the numerous kidnapping of non-Muslim women and forced marriage to Muslim men. Muslims must realize that they are in the West and are lucky to have the freedom to worship which is often denied to other faiths in Muslim countries. This kind of attitude really irritates me about Islam and Muslims.
John,you are right.It is very wrong of most muslim countries to treat their minorities badly.But it does not serve the purpose to caricature the Prophet(Peace be upon him)or to make movies like Fitna.There is a verse from the Quran I would like to share with you.It reveals the place it gives to other religions.
"Lo! those who believe in that which is revealed unto thee,(Muhammed),and those who are Jews, and Christians,and Sabeans---whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doth right---surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
Hi Quratul-ain.
I understand Muslims frustrations with the caricature of Muhammed. Though I feel your worries are unwarranted as in Fitna most scenes are entirely composed from islamic based media companies. In the west there is a history of freedom of thought which we are proud of. If some of the aspects of this seem disturbing to Muslims or offensive it is regrettable. But Muslims must understand also that some Islamic principles are also offensive to some non-Muslims.
One telling remark in your quote of Muhammed which should be pointed out, and quite righltly you say that it reveals the place it gives to other religions
is :
"Lo! those who believe in that which is revealed unto thee,(Muhammed),and those who are Jews, and Christians,and Sabeans---whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doth right---surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve."
This says nothing about religions that neither believe in the Last Day or believe in Allah. Thus Gentiles, Hindus, Buddhists, Animalism and so forth are not afforded protection and can be destroyed at will. History tells us this.
Anyway I have Muslim friends that I like very much I just would not like to see the west or the netherlands loosing its traditional identity. As a Muslim you must realize and know also that as the west changes so does the face of Islam.
Hello John,You must not forget that Islam was revealead in 7th century AD. to Arabs.It addressed ordinary people who most probably did not know of far of religions,so mentioning them in the Quran would only serve to confuse people.The Vedas (The Hindu Scripture is strict about the belief in one God.And you must note this down seriously , no religion can be destroyed at will.Anoter oft -quoted
verse from the Quran,
''There is no compulsion in religion."
As a rule Muslims rulers in India did not force conversions.They were politically motivated people and did not try to convert the large Hindu population.
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