Many Indonesian Muslims do not recognize the violent portrayal of Islam by Dutch opposition MP Geert Wilders. A 70-minute documentary shows how Mr Wilders' relentless Islam-bashing is affecting them.
I Muslima is the first documentary by 24-year-old social studies student Stefan Franz from Tilburg. His girlfriend Anita Paoniasari, raised in a strict Islamic community in the Indonesian city of Bandung does not recognise the image of Islam painted by politician Geert Wilders in his film Fitna. She has been living in the Netherlands for seven years, and says she has become Westernized, but is angered and saddened by the violent Islam portrayed by the Dutch MP, despite the critical questions she is asking herself about her religion.
For Stefan Franz, this was sufficient reason to travel to Indonesia with his girlfriend and record the reactions of people there on video. Anita Paoniasari talked to people in the street and to old friends. Conversations with imams also invariably turned to Geert Wilders, Fitna and Islam. At the time, fanatical believers were holding a demonstration against the film in the capital Jakarta.
Stefan Franz distilled more than 60 hours' worth of recordings into a 70-minute documentary in which we follow his girlfriend during her conversations with fellow believers, but also share in her uncertainties. The documentary's first screening will take place at the Mundial Film Festival in Tilburg on 23 April 2009.
*RNW translation (gsh)
Tags:
Fitna freedom of religion,
Geert Wilders,
Indonesia
alhaji daramy-bassey,
29-04-2009
- united kingdom & ireland
Freedom-of-expression is a natural phenominum; relating, mainly to political Governance. Provocation is quite a different matter ; when ever we try to promote issues of respect, diversity and stability.
Rajiv Thind,
19-04-2009
- New Zealand
I am more concerned about fundamentalism in every religion and philosophy as a threat to human liberty and personal freedom. Most of world's religions- I prefer to say all- subjugate women, sexual minorities. It is a different matter though some centuries ago in Europe the Catholic Church had the power of controlling the society like Islamic fundamentalists and Taliban like factions do today in the Muslim world. My point is that they (fundamentalists) all have same goals but modern Muslim world (spread across Africa, Middle East, South and South East Asia) is where they can actually enforce sharia like medieval commandments and doctrines which are also found in Bible, Hindu texts (caste system/ subjugation of women) and other religious books but cannot be enforced as effectively. But in the Western world criticism of religion is allowed. ALL of Eastern world DOES NOT allow freethinkers to challenge religion and debunk it. Because NEED for CONSENSUS and HONOR bars these societies to allow individual freedom. Without this freedom, human freedom will never be achieved. They are not free because they (at least majority of them) don't seem to value or need freedom.
David Berridge,
19-04-2009
- Canada
Dear Joseph, The rise to research and gradually develop Islamic banking practises is a response by some major global banking institutions to open their client bases and markets to a new demographic segment of the global populace. The damage experienced by many of the world's leading financial institutions has been so extensive as to bring about the "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" course of action, to a way of banking service rejected only a short time ago by these very businesses. As with Australia, Canadian banks are strongly regulated to standards admired worldwide. However, severe downturns affecting the US for Canada, and Japan for Australia, would be devasting for our respective countries, despite the robust health of our banking systems. The West in general has come to terms on a global scale to try to reach new markets with new methods, as well as regulatory reform. A compatable example of this is the explosive rise of micro-banking internationally which in itself is revolutionizing global finance. I hope this helps towards a better cview and understanding of my previous commentary.
jasmin,
18-04-2009
- India
The less said, the better...
Galaxio,
18-04-2009
- Argentina
This poor girl is reciting a violent verse of the Quran and she is not aware of that fact at all... a perfect image of the islamic "pacifists"... (the complete surah incites to arnessing all means against the infidels...)
CaptainZen,
18-04-2009
- Netherlands Antilles
What is the problem? As soon as the Islam accepts and tolerates my belief the Islamists are welcome. So long as I can not drink my beer in their countries they better stay home and away from my culture.
Sugi,
17-04-2009
- U.S.A
Anita Paoniasari and all muslims need to read news "Sikhs pay Rs 20 million in 'tax' to Taliban in Pak's Aurakzai Press Trust of India" to see how peacefull islam is. If they think Jajia tax is right how about imposing a muslim tax on all muslims living in Non Muslim countries?
Joseph,
17-04-2009
- Australia
Mr Berridge, the Western world does not need Islamic banking, just prudential regulation and oversight. Australia's Western-style banks are in top condition right now, due to the oversight of the Government's watchdog. Islam is all about submission. Let's not start with anything.
Jack Worthing,
17-04-2009
- USA
"His girlfriend Anita Paoniasari, raised in a strict Islamic community in the Indonesian city of Bandung does not recognise the image of Islam painted by politician Geert Wilders in his film Fitna." Then I suggest she open her eyes and look a bit closer to home. Or, that's not necessary since Islam in the Netherlands is itself radicalized. She should look at Muhammad Bouyeri's interview, where he said if he had the chance to kill Theo Van Gogh he would do it all over again, because his religion ordered him to - and compared it to the mainstream Shariah view that anyone who insults the Prophet should be killed (this is law in Pakistan). Theo Van Gogh's murder was basically Islamically acceptable. She should wonder why Muslims are 6% of the population and yet responsible for 36% of the attacks on gays nationwide. She should gaze at a survey carried out where 40% of Dutch Muslims rejected freedom of speech, and one in ten was prepared to use violence to defend Islam. She should look at the 'moderate' imam hired as a chaplain by the Dutch Army, who called the Dutch PM a 'mad crusader', said Christians would always be at war with Muslims, admires the Taleban, and warns that Dutch soldiers will 'return in body bags' as long as they defy them. "She has been living in the Netherlands for seven years, and says she has become Westernized, but is angered and saddened by the violent Islam portrayed by the Dutch MP, despite the critical questions she is asking herself about her religion." Why should she be angry at Wilders? Wilders didn't make Fitnah, Muslims did. Wilders hired no actors. His whole film was basically four parts: (1) quotes from the Qur'an and hadith, the foundations of Shariah law; (2) bloody footage of Islamic punishments, also mandated in these holy texts; (3) Muslim imams calling for Islam to take over Europe and the world; and (4) demographic information about Islam in the Netherlands. Except for a single Muhammad cartoon which was later removed because of copyright violations, there was nothing in the entire film insulting Islam, only using Muslim sources and experts. If she's already critical of her religion, maybe this film just frightens her because it confirms her fears, and she's in denial. Yes, there were many fanatical demonstrations in Indonesia, including protesters holding up signs like this one". Do you think these Indonesians have any laws banning 'inciting murder'? Of course not. Again I'm not insulting Islam, only showing you what Muslims are saying. Does that make me a racist?
David Berridge,
17-04-2009
- Canada
What Wilders cannot and will not admit from the get-go is that one fourth of the world's population is Muslim, albeit a pluralistic and varied groupings of peoples across geography, languages, and cultures. Now Geert is uniting them against his personal stereotypical views of Islam, going against his stated objective of leaving the Netherlands and Europe, as Christian. If anyone is a problem in the Islamization of Europe it is Wilders himself. (In fact I just read yesterday on a rival European news service to this one, that a group of world leading banks who were devasted by the current financial crisis, are now preparing to open divisions for Islamic style banking, as they can no longer afford to ignore this market. This as I had predicted in a previous commentary to this Forum, critiquing the stubborn attitudes of Dutch financial institutions.) Let Geert make his films as others are now replying. Communications in this day and age is a many multi-laned highway, and Geert does not and will not have a monopoly of influence over public opinion. It was a nifty gimmick while it lasted, and repeating the "Fitna" craze is now only going to bring negative dividends once more lucid film and thought enters the debate Geert initiated, and now has lost control over.
roxn,
16-04-2009
- UK
Indonesia is become more radicalised everyday - there is now Shari'a law in about half its states - and minority Islamic sects as well as Christians are violently opposed. Over 200 churches and been burnt down or forcibly closed in the last three years - as the kind of fundamentalist Wahaabiist Islam takes hold - so much so that even Obama - has said that Islam has changed there - that it is increasingly no longer the tolerant example that it once was.
In the West we are saying - Islam is fine - as a personal belief - but please don't try to change our rules and norms to make them Islamic - or the suit only Islamic sensibilities. That means freedom of speech and freedom of expression stay.
All people are good - but we live in the free world and that is how we want to keep it.
Thomas,
16-04-2009
- USA
It's getting desperate when a man's girlfriend's feelings becoming the NEWS on RNW.
Many people have video cams and girlfriends as well but they gather - not on RNW - but on youtube.
