Wednesday, April 23, 2008
RP gov't condemns anti-Quran Dutch film (6:57 p.m.)
MANILA -- The Philippine government condemned a Dutch lawmaker's anti-Quran film Wednesday for inciting hatred toward Islam, but officials also called for calm among those critical of the movie.
A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines is "in solidarity with the Islamic world in denouncing the offensive contents of the film "Fitna," or "Ordeal" in Arabic.
The film's "association of Islam with acts of violence is defamatory and serves to heighten misperceptions about a religion of peace," the statement said.
The film by right-wing Dutch legislator Geert Wilders was posted on a website last month. It triggered street protests in Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, and calls in other countries to boycott Dutch goods.
Wilders' movie juxtaposes verses from Islam's holy book, the Quran, with images of the terror attacks on New York, Madrid and elsewhere. It shows footage of imams saying Islam should dominate the world.
The Dutch government has said it disagrees with the film's harsh, hateful tone but insists Wilders has a constitutional right to air his views. The U.N. secretary-general and U.N. agencies have condemned the film. EU foreign ministers have sharply rejected its views.
The Philippine statement said freedom of expression "should always be done with the attendant responsibility."
"Nobody should, in his or her exercise of this right, slander, libel or defame any particular religion or creed," it said.
"Nevertheless, we wish to advance our call for sobriety in light of the widespread adverse reactions to the film. Acts of violence in the context of this issue are unjustified," the statement said.
The Philippine government is sensitive to anti-Islamic sentiments as it grapples with a more than three-decade-old Muslim separatist insurgency while battling al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's south. (AP)
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