
Amil Imani
A Salute to Champions of Liberty
February 26, 2009
Geert Wilders, an outspoken politician and chairman of the Freedom Party
(PVV) in the Netherlands who produced a 16 minute-long movie “FITNA,”
has been accused of Islamophobia and refused entry to the
UK by immigration authorities after arriving at Heathrow airport in
London. UK Independence party peer, Lord Pearson, had invited him to
show his controversial film “Fitna,” which links Quran to terrorism, at
the House of Lords.
The 16-minute documentary which juxtaposes passages of the Quran with
the mass murder of 9/11 and other acts by radical Muslims was released
to the Internet on March 27, 2008. It immediately sparked Muslims’
condemnation. They argued he is twisting selected passages from the
Quran to suit his argument in the same way that extremists do to promote
terrorism. In his short film, he presented the following passages from
the Quran. You be the judge:
Al-Anfal 8.60 “Against them make ready your strength to the utmost
of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the
hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides,
whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend
in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be
treated unjustly.”
An-Nisa 4.56 "Those who have disbelieved our signs, we shall roast
them in fire. Whenever their skins are cooked to a turn, we shall
substitute new skins for them, that they may feel the punishment; Verily
Allah is sublime and wise."
Muhammad 47.4 “Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight),
smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them,
bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either
generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye
commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have
exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in
order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way
of Allah, - He will never let their deeds be lost.”
An-Nisa 4.89 “They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do,
and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from
their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is
forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them
wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from
their ranks.”
Al-Anfal 8.39 “Fight them on until there is no more tumult or
oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and
everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.”
Regrettably, a court in his hometown, Amsterdam, ruled that he should be
prosecuted for inciting racial hatred, though Wilders has appealed
against the decision since he was exercising his free speech. The film's
title comes from the Arabic word ‘Fitna’, which can simultaneously mean:
a schism, secession, upheaval and anarchy.
The Dutch politician arrived in the U.S. last Thursday to show his
controversial film “Fitna” and meet with lawmakers in Washington. He
also appeared last Friday at a
banquet in the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. The event was
organized by the lovely, fearless and true American patriot, Pamela
Geller, from the well-known blog
Atlas Shrugs. Other honorable and distinguished individuals who
assisted Pamela with financing the event were
Dr. Andrew Bostom,
Robert Spencer and David Horowitz.
Wilders gave a phenomenal speech about freedom of speech at the grand
ballroom. Wilder is correct in his assertion about Islam in Europe. The
Muslims' killing campaign did not end with their defeat at the gates of
Vienna. Their eviction from Spain was a temporary forced retreat. But
now the Muslims have, in huge numbers, penetrated the gates of every
city and town of Europe without yet having to use their swords.
In Europe, the gullible, self-indulging native non-Muslims have welcomed
the arrivals as a source of cheap labor to serve their needs for a life
devoted to self-gratification with little concern for the future. Europe
is living on credit, and the creditors are hordes of Muslims who have
already started delivering their bills.
Many affluent Europeans who see the handwriting on the wall are packing
and moving to North America, Australia, and other seemingly safe lands.
Yet the Muslims’ bills, with compounded interest, shall continue to be
delivered to those who remain behind. In response, politicians will keep
bending backwards to placate the evermore powerful creditors by
gradually instituting the Islamic Sharia as the law of the land. Before
very long, Europe will have to turn its deed over to the new Islamic
invaders or rebel and fight block by block, city by city. That’s when
Europe shall bleed, once again.
Life is precious. It is to be protected, nurtured and celebrated.
Mankind is moving, perhaps at a glacier pace, toward reconciliation,
ever-expanding inclusiveness without any group or ideology imposing
itself on others. Any attempt against this trend of unity in diversity
is doomed to failure, as exemplified by the demise of fascism and
communism.
The charter of Quran for most parts preaches discrimination, death and
imposition of its dogma on everyone. Islam, just like fascism and
communism, is a dysfunctional ideology that needs to be abandoned.
Humanity has matured considerably since the time of Muhammad. In order
to continue its forward march, mankind must follow a roadmap appropriate
for its age and state of development. It is foolish to insist that a
book written over 1400 years ago must serve as the one and only guide
for humanity.
Reforming Islam is unfortunately not a realistic possibility. About the
only universal agreement that exists among Islamic authorities is that
every word of the Quran is the word of Allah and is not subject to human
modification, ever. The ‘Hadith’ also enjoys a similar sacrosanct
standing. And of course, the faithful Muhammad’s conduct as recorded in
the Sunna is the model to be emulated. Hence, one can pick and choose,
but one cannot discard or revise any part of the scripture. For this
reason, a Martin Luther type reformation has not happened and will not
likely ever happen within Islam.
Sell hate and people queue several blocks to buy. Sell love and you will
be mostly by your lonely self. Is this a cynical view? No, it is a
realistic one. It describes a human’s lower and primitive nature which
must be painstakingly overcome through persistent education and
awakening of man’s higher nature.
It is heartening to see that there are people such as
Greet Wilders,
Robert Spencer,
Dr. Ali Sina,
Dr. Wafa Sultan ,
Nonie Darwish and many others who cherish liberty as
humanity's most precious treasure and risk their lives to defend it
against the surging monolithic Islamism. I salute these valiant people
and call upon the free people of the world over to swell their ranks and
reverse the deadly tide of Islamofascism.