UPDATED SEVERAL TIMES BELOW: DUTCH MUSLIM ORGANIZATION GOES TO COURT

Geert Wilders has put his movie “Fitna” online. You can watch it here at this blog, but before you can watch it I want to make something very clear. That we publish this movie at this site does not, in any way whatsoever, mean that we endorse Wilders’ views. In fact, many of us – including myself – disagree very strongly with him. However, since Wilders and “Fitna” have been in the news for months, and since his film is part of a bigger debate about Islam and the integration of Muslims in Western European countries, we consider it justified to publish the film nonetheless.

Our intention is not to insult anyone.

UPDATE II

Since “Fitna” loads quite slowly, you can download its torrent (via Hot Air). Also via Hot Air a statement of LiveLeak.com; they explain why they decided to publish the movie.

LiveLeak.com has a strict stance on remaining unbiased and allowing freedom of speech as so far as the law and our rules allow. There was no legal reason to refuse Geert Wilders the right to post his film (Fitna) on LiveLeak.com and it is not our place to censor people based on an emotive response. We in no way endorse Geert Wilders, his views, nor the views expressed within Fitna. To many of us involved in LiveLeak.com some of the messages therein are personally offensive. That being said, our being offended is no reason to deny Mr Wilders the right to have his film seen. Pre-emptive censorship or a discriminatory policy towards freedom of speech are both things we oppose here on LiveLeak.com. A person has a simple, clear choice about whether to view this film. No one is being forced to view it and nor is it being broadcasted on every channel on their television set. If you click on media simply to be annoyed, it is pointless to blame others for your choice.

We do not intend on defending the content of Fitna, only our choice to allow it. Anyone has the full right of reply on LiveLeak.com. Any person or organizations are free to post their opinion and, dependent on said response falling within both the law and our rules, we will afford such responses equal exposure. There are undoubtedly better ways to spark a discussion but this film is now out there and we believe we should all grasp this opportunity to create an open dialogue and discussion on this subject.

UPDATE III

Moderate Muslim Ali Eteraz weighs in:

I just watched Geert Wilders’ film, Fitna, The Movie. My initial reaction is a yawn. No surprise, of course. The soundtrack is Tchaikovsky’s mellow classical piece called “Arab Dance.” Quick tip to future demagogues: when trying to incite riots, try not to use musical pieces that are based on Georgian lullabies.

Anyone who has seen terrorist propaganda films is familiar with most of the scenes and most of the disgusting conflations of the Quran with acts of violence, murder, kidnapping and anti-semitism. Such behavior has been condemned resoundingly among Muslims. Those that use the Quran for illegitimate and criminal ends should be punished by the fullest extent of the law.

What I’m really wondering: is Wilders’ protesting against Islam or the monopoly extremists already have over grainy, low-budget, youtube videos? The only difference I see is that Wilders plays the best of Western classical music — an insult to the legacy of Tchaikovsky — than death chants. I guess the thing he can be credited with is upping the sound quality. Also the transubstantiation of “Fitna” into “Fin” at the end was pretty cool.