Never, ever, ever, did we think we’d really be putting Al-Queda in the headline and/or get our War on Terror stories from Variety.
But there is a “war” going on against all this terror, and since Muslims essentially took down YouTube for two whole hours last week, here comes the terror:
Write Variety:
Al-Qaeda Thursday issued a fatwa calling for the execution of Dutch filmmaker and politician Geert Wilders, who is producing an anti-Koran short.
Wilders expects to finish the 15-minute “Fitna” by the beginning of March, and will talk to broadcasters about airing it. None are yet on board.
But he insists “Fitna” (Arabic for discord) will be available on the website of his political party in the Netherlands and a dedicated site.
The Egyptian government has already voiced its objections to the anti-Koran film. Protests have also come from Indonesia and Iran. Earlier in the week Pakistan set off a global YouTube blackout when regulators blocked an online trailer for the film.
It’s the damn cartoons of Muhammad all over again! What’s the deal with the Dutch getting all up in Islam’s shit?
There are a few religions we personally dislike (they will not be named – except Scientology), and there are religions that the internet in general seems to dislike (Scientology), but this is all in the process of American discourse. Disrespecting Islam when entire world governments are based on it, that’s just stupid.
However, a greater line is being drawn. Fitna is going to be broadcast on the internet, not in festivals, not in huge “check out Fitna you dumbasses” screenings in the Middle East.
This is terrorism in the sense that we think there will be consequences for continuing the artistic pursuit of filmmaking, even when the product is not pushed in the part of the world where all the controversy is rooted.
We’re going to do our best to at least tell you where you can watch Fitna next month, because as much as we think blind patriotism is as evil as terrorism, fuck these guys if they want to bring the fight to filmmakers.
