Web site of Dutch anti-Islam film is suspended

It appears that the freedom to be critical of Islam is not supported in either the United States or the Netherlands.

AMSTERDAM: The Web site on which the Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders was promoting his film, which is said to be critical of the Koran, has been suspended by its U.S. hosting service.

The site formerly showed the film's title, "Fitna" ("Coming Soon"), and an image of a gilded Koran. Now it shows a note that the U.S. company, Network Solutions, is investigating whether the site violates its terms of service.

"Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation," the note said.

There are limits to free speech and high among them is criticism of Islam.

"How many ways are there left for me to be worked against?" the Dutch news agency ANP quoted him as saying Saturday. "If necessary, I'll go hand out DVDs personally on the Dam," he said, referring to Amsterdam's central square.

Demonstrators from many different ethnic groups crowded the square Saturday, braving wind and sleet to show their opposition to Wilders.

The protest, called "Netherlands Shows Its Colors," was primarily a reaction in advance to the film.

One protester carried a sign saying "Standing Together Against the Right-Wing Populist Witch-Hunt."

"I'm very much against Geert Wilders and racism in general," said one protester, Elisa Trepp. "I think it's really important to show not only Holland but the rest of the world that there's a lot of people who do not agree with his ideas."

Hassan Iaeti, who traveled for hours from the far south of the country to attend the demonstration, said: "The government could really do something. That's in the interest of the country - stop him, just stop him."

He said he believed Wilders was abusing the right to freedom of speech, which he said had limits.

In another part of Europe, some are willing to brave death rather than give up their faith.

Muslim baptized by pope says life in danger

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A Muslim author and critic of Islamic fundamentalism who was baptized a Catholic by Pope Benedict said on Sunday Islam is "physiologically violent" and he is now in great danger because of his conversion.

"I realize what I am going up against but I will confront my fate with my head high, with my back straight and the interior strength of one who is certain about his faith," said Magdi Allam.
...
Writing in Sunday's edition of the leading Corriere della Sera, the newspaper of which he is a deputy director, Allam said: "... the root of evil is innate in an Islam that is physiologically violent and historically conflictual."

Allam, who is a strong supporter of Israel and who an Israeli newspaper once called a "Muslim Zionist," has lived under police protection following threats against him, particularly after he criticized Iran's position on Israel.

He said before converting he had continually asked himself why someone who had struggled for what he called "moderate Islam" was then "condemned to death in the name of Islam and on the basis of a Koranic legitimization."

That headline should read "Christian baptized by pope says life in danger." He is no longer a Muslim and that's why he is under a death threat.