In 2008, conservative Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders released a 17-minute film titled "Fitna" (an Arabic word meaning "social strife.") The film looks at Islamic motivations for terrorism and features a number of inflammatory images, such as the prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban next to a countdown clock.
The film was met with predictable outrage among the Muslim community and became the center of discussion about the clash between Europeans and the latest wave of Muslim immigrants.
Mr. Wilders has long been a controversial figure, known for comparing the Koran to Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” and for saying there are no moderate Muslims. In early 2009, he was banned from entering Britain two days before he was scheduled to show "Fitna" to members of the British parliament. The ban was eventually lifted in October of that year.
In 2010 the far-right politician was put on trial for inciting hatred against Muslims in the Netherlands. In June of 2011, Wilders was acquitted. A Dutch court noted that his speech was legitimate political debate, but walked a fine line.
