DUBAI (Al Arabiya) :The screening of Geert Wilders’ controversial anti-Islam film in the
U.K. Sunday outraged Muslims and rights organizations earning the far-right Dutch MP
the labels "fascist" and "racist."
The film, called Fitna, was screened at the House of Lords in response to an invitation
Wilders got on March 5 from Lord Malcolm Pearson, leader of the United Kingdom
Independence Party (UKIP) and member of the House of Lords, and Baroness Caroline
Anne Cox, cross-bench member of the House of Lords.
Wilders' trip to the U.K. is part of the Stop Islamization Of Europe (SIOE) campaign. SIOE
is an organization whose goal is to prevent Islam from becoming a substantial political
force in Europe. Wilders' visit is supported by the far-right English Defense League (EDL).
The film, which declares Islam is incompatible with democracy and calls the Quran a
fascist book, was scheduled for screening in the U.K. in 2009. However, Wilders was
denied entry to the country. He was accused of inciting hatred and designated a persona
non grata. The ban was overturned in October 2009, a moved that Wilders called a
“victory for freedom.”
British rights groups slammed the visit and submitted a complaint to the Interior Minister,
calling Wilders the Dutch version of the English Defence League (EDL), whose sole goal is
to fight the presence of Islam in Europe, and the far-right British National Party (BNP),
which restricts its membership to Caucasians only.
Protesters from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) waved signs that read "EDL+BNP= Nazi
racist thugs" and chanted "EDL, go to hell, and take your Nazi mates as well." The police
made sure to keep UAF protestors away from ADL supporters who carried signs
welcoming Wilders.
Meanwhile, Muslims inside and outside the U.K. continued their campaign against what
they perceive as systematic and intentional insults directed against their religion, their holy
book, and their prophet.
The campaigns, which are mostly launched on the internet and call for boycotting
countries that insult Islam, cite Wilders' movie, the Danish cartoons, and Theo Van
Gough's movie Submission as just a few, yet flagrant, examples European insults to
Islam.. However, online campaigns also indicate that Muslims are losing hope as they no
longer trust that serious political action will be taken to stop spread of Islamophobia in
Europe.
The ban on Wilders’ film last year was not only praised by Muslims, but also by British
officials who view the MP as a fanatic extremist intent on inciting intolerance in Europe.
British MP George Galloway expressed his support for the British government's decision to
ban Wilders from the U.K.
"I believe that this man, Wilders, from Holland is a racist hater of Muslims, hater of Islam,
and he shouldn't be allowed into our country to whip up that hatred," Galloway said in a
T.V. interview.