Fitna, the controversial anti-Koran short film by anti-immigration Dutch MP Geert Wilders was finally released on the internet on Thursday evening the 27th of March. Most of the Dutch and foreign media report that the film is milder than expected and lacks surprises. No problems in the Netherlands or abroad have been reported following the long-awaited release of the controversial anti-Koran film, reports the Dutch National Crisis Centre on Friday morning.
The Dutch anti-terrorism coordinator has not increased the country’s alarm level which remains on the second highest setting, the Dutch news service ANP states. And a spokesman for the Dutch troops in Afghanistan told the Dutch news radio station BNR that there have not been any reactions to the film in the region although security will be stepped up.
On the political front, religious leaders and representatives from various Dutch ethnic minority organisations are due to meet the integration and justice ministers to discuss their reactions to the film.
Nevertheless the public prosecution department is to consider whether Fitna breaks the law, said prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende in a reaction after the release. In a live televised speech he said the cabinet regrets the showing of the short film, adding that its only aim is to upset people.
Swiss Europe correspondent Christoph Nufer travels to the Netherlands to portray and interview a Liberal Dutch Muslim columnist and visits a mosque in Amsterdam to find out what the visitors and a representative of the Turkish Muslim community think about the Wilders film.
For this news reportage for the news program Tagesschau Featurez gave advice, did the research, set-up, planning of the filming and accompanied the filming, the editing and the satellite transfer of the video material.