Ayaan Hirsi Ali, whom I profile in Onward Muslim Soldiers and who is a hero of the resistance to jihad and defense of human rights, is also involved. Note that the outrage is all directed toward those who have “insulted” Islam, rather than against the mistreatment of women addressed by the film. From Expatica, with thanks to Ali Dashti and Susan:
AMSTERDAM “” Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was given police protection on Monday following the screening of a controversial and “insulting” film about the abuse suffered by women in Islamic societies.
The writer of the film, Liberal VVD politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, is already under police protection following earlier threats to her life.
Van Gogh said despite the shocking content of the film “” which casts an accusing eye on the treatment of women in the Islamic faith “” no threats were made against him, news agency ANP reported.
The English-language film Submission features four abused women in see through clothing who tell of their mistreatment by male members of their families. They say the abuse they suffer is sanctioned by the Koran. The women’s’ breasts are visible and anti-women texts from the Koran are written on their bodies.
Well, this sounds to me like an approach they would really go for in Holland, and I am not a European myself, but the core point is sound. After all, the Qur’anic translator Abdullah Yusuf Ali was so embarrassed by Qur’an 4:34 that he inserted the word “lightly” in parentheses after the direction to men to beat their wives, even though the word does not appear in the Arabic.
The idea for the film originated with Hirsi Ali, who has been strident in her criticism of the way in which the Koran sanctions physical violence against women. The MP has previously been forced into hiding after receiving death threats and is accompanied everywhere by armed bodyguards.
The film is a fierce condemnation of the abuses of women in the Islamic faith, allegedly incited by verses in the Koran. Hirsi Ali said she wanted to demonstrate that the Koran itself advocates the beating of women and other abuses.
The outspoken Somali-born Dutch MP also said in the VPRO programme that she did not want to provoke anyone. Instead, she wished to stimulate thought and discussion.
The chairman of the Islam and Citizenship foundation, M. Sini., said he respected the right of the filmmakers to express their opinion, but he also said the film was an offensive provocation that was insulting for Muslims.
“You must place the equality of men and women up for discussion, but not in this manner,” he said.
OK, M. Sini., then you do it. Open the discussion in a manner that you find appropriate. I’ll be waiting right here. Meanwhile, recognize that you live in a free society and call the goons off Van Gogh and Hirsi Ali.