Posted by
InchDeep on Friday, March 28, 2008 4:00:03 PM
Update:
Terrorist Bring Liveleaks To It's Knees.
But it's still on YouTube. Scroll down to view the video.
Website withdraws Dutch MP's anti-Islam film after threats
Posted 1 hour 11 minutes ago
Internet site Liveleak.com says it has withdrawn
anti-Islam film Fitna by far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders following
threats to its staff.
"Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some
ill-informed reports from certain corners of the British media that
could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has
been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers,"
the UK-based site said in an online statement.
"This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well being of our staff above all else.
"We would like to thank the thousands of people, from all
backgrounds and religions, who gave us their support. They realised
LiveLeak.com is a vehicle for many opinions and not just for the
support of one.
"Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a
discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can
accept one another's culture.
"We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end the price was too high."
Mr Wilders said it was "terrible that these threats deal a serious
blow to freedom of expression" but told Dutch news agency ANP that he
understood the decision to withdraw the short film.
Fitna can still be seen on other websites, including youtube.com.
The Fitna video, which features violent imagery of terror attacks in
New York and Madrid intertwined with Koranic texts, was posted on the
internet on Thursday.
In an interview with AFP on Friday, Mr Wilders rejected any
responsibility for any retaliation against Dutch nationals or interests
abroad.
"I hope it doesn't happen but even if it does the people who commit
such acts are responsible, not me," he said, pointing to a quiet first
night in the Netherlands.
Fearing a repeat of violent clashes that followed the publication in
2005 of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in Danish newspapers,
the Dutch Government has distanced itself from Mr Wilders' film, albeit
Islamic leaders there have called for calm.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday joined Muslim nations in expressing outrage over the film.
Mr Ban called Mr Wilders' film offensive while Iran and Bangladesh
warned it could have grave consequences and Pakistan protested to the
Dutch ambassador.