Earlier this month, thousands of Christians flocked Karachi, capital of Sindh Province "to protest and condemn the online anti-Quran film," BosNewsLife established Friday, April 25. Christians chanted slogans against the Dutch legislator and demanded for boycotts of the Dutch products, organizers told BosNewsLife.
There has been concern within the Christian community of Pakistan that the film will spark more attacks against churches and other Christian institutions in this predominantly Muslim nation.
An activist of advocacy group All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), Farukh Tanvir said he is concerned that this film which relates the Islam to extremism and terrorism would make Pakistani Christian residential areas, churches and other institutions "more vulnerable to the Islamic hard liners."
"NOT RESONSIBLE"
He added that Pakistani Christians "are not responsible for this irresponsible act of the Geert Wilders." In the Netherlands Wilders has said he does not condemn Muslims personally, but said he is concerned about "radical Islamists" and their ideology.
Yet, the chairman of human rights group ‘Rays of Development Organization, Ferhan Mazher told BosNewsLife that Wilders forget the potential impact on minority Christians.
"We are toiling here in Pakistan to build interfaith peace and harmony, but such documentaries made in the name of ‘freedom of expression or speech’, can nullify our efforts…"
Several Christian politicians have called for taking the film off the Internet. The row has also underscored differences of opinions between Western Christians and Christians facing persecution.
GOVERNMENT AGAINST
Christian politicians in the Dutch government are against banning Fitna, saying such a move runs contrary to freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution of the Netherlands and other Western countries.
In the United States Bill Keller, described as “the world’s leading Internet Evangelist” and the founder of LivePrayer.com, said he has received numerous death threats from Muslims for posting Fitna on his website.
Keller defended his decision saying, "People have been lulled to sleep thinking that terror is caused by a handful of extremists. That is not the case. All Muslims read from the same book, and to obey "Allah" are expected to obey what their holy book teaches. That includes death to all infidels, or those who won’t covert to their false religion, and ruling the world.”
He admitted that, "This film is very graphic, but people need to see and know what Islam is really about, converting the world to their false beliefs through terror and death."
However in countries like Pakistan, Christians argue that it is more easy for Westerners to make this argument in non Muslim countries. (With reporting by BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos).
