Dutch MP proposes a ban on the Quran

I recently came across a video interview of the Dutch MP, Geert Wilders. In 2007, Geert Wilders made the headlines with his proposal to ban the Holy Quran from the social and educational framework of the Netherlands. He is currently producing a film that he claims 'will show the people the truth about this terrible book'. He goes on to say ' our culture is far better than the retarded Islamic culture'. (Link to the interview is available here)


In my opinion, Wilders can be defined as an instigator. He seems well versed in Islamic issues, he knows the history of Islam and muslims. More importantly, he knows exactly where to hit Islam. As mentioned in the previous article (on Dr. Zakir Naik), the response of a community to a crisis is what defines them. Geert Wilders knows exactly the kind of response that he is generating. He is well aware of the passion with which muslims regard their Prophet and Holy Book.Put in simple words, Wilders wants a reaction from muslims so that he can say to the media, "I told you so!"

Judging by the previous reactions from muslims, it wont come as a surprise if muslims hold demonstrations and carry banners that advocate attacks on Wilders personally. Furthermore, even Dutch soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been threatened by extremist Islamic groups.

It is important to understand the exact issue at hand, which is Wilders' reference to some verses in the Quran which he claims 'preach violence'. We will know the exact verses that he is referring to after the completion of his film. As all muslims are aware, a verse can't be picked up on it's own and translated word for word. The only way that the exact tenor of the verse can be understood is by examining the verses prior to and after the verse in question. Without dwelling much into this issue, a closer look at the Bible, a Holy book for more than 2 billion christians worldwide also contains, as Wilders puts it, 'verses of hate'. A few examples are,

"Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors"
(Deuteronomy 13:13-19)

"Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple." So they began by killing the seventy leaders. "Defile the Temple!" the LORD commanded. "Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!" So they went throughout the city and did as they were told."
(Ezekiel 9:5-7)

Hold on, ! Was Mr. Wilders referring to the Quran or to the Bible! Hmm, maybe Wilders should ban the Bible as well since he is at it! I think Wilders needs to look at the broader picture here and understand the divine message that is portrayed in both these Holy Books. God, in his infinite wisdom, is explaining to man the repercussions of disobeying Him. It is a way of explaining the severity of disobedience. Translated to todays time, where only a few totally Islamic states exist, we can not carry out punishments to people in the exact same manner as described in the Quran. These verses just portray the magnitude of wrath in going against the word of God.

Unfortunately, there exist a few individuals who brainwash and recalibrate the message of Islam according to their understanding, which is infact very limited. A shocking example is on the issue of wife-beating. Bahraini cleric Abdullah Latif Aal Mahmoud in a statement said

" If the husband wants to use beatings to treat his wife, he must never ever do it in front of the children. It must remain between him and her. It must be done according to the following conditions: He must not cause bleeding or bruise her body. He should avoid her face and other sensitive parts of her body. As we've said, the limitations on beating are: They must not cause bleeding, they should not break any bones, they should not be on the face, and they should not bruise her. If the husband violates these rules, he violates the rules of Allah"

Another example is a sermon by preacher Abu Usamah of Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham, UK. He says, in reference to homosexuals,

"Now they say that if you discriminate against homosexuals, you're going to jail. But we'll discriminate in a way where we don't get in trouble. The Muslim is a dentist - one of those people come, and going to take a big, big needle, and stick it in his [indecipherable]."

These are the kind of 'muslims' that the West is looking at. These people are called for interviews in newsrooms, they write articles and give lectures. They preach an Islam which has been created by them. Worst of all, they are a role model to young kids whose minds are manipulated into thinking the worst of all non-muslims. Whilst the so-called muslims like Abu Usamah are preaching their altered version of Islam, the rest of the majority of muslims are either threatening short-sighted leaders like Geert Wilders or sitting back, settling comfortably into this temporary life, acquiring wealth and riches. It is high time that muslims world over wake up and defend their religion. Statistics say that there is a 2% increase in growth of muslims every year. Which Islam are these new muslims acquiring ? The Islam of the Holy Prophet or the Islam of radical clerics like Abu Usamah and Abdullah Latif Aal Mahmoud ??

"Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence."
Henri Frederic Amiel