Dear ONO-colleagues,
The Netherlands is facing a serious dilemma about the plan of a Dutch politician to produce a short movie criticising the islam-religion. Everybody still has in its memory the Danish cartoon-issue and the consequences of it. Its presumed the Dutch movie will be launched in two or three weeks time, but it has already been shadowed forth in the Dutch and the international press.
The Foundation Media-ombudsman The Netherlands should like to have the comments of media ombudsmen from all over the world about the bizar situation a hectic debate is going on in The Netherlands and elsewhere about a movie which has not even been launched and its content is not known. How is this question being looked at in a journalistic perspective in your countries and by you as media ombudsmen?
We intend to assemble your comments and publish them on our website, which will be operational in two weeks time. Thanks in advance!
A short overview:
Syria’s grand mufti Sheikk Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun, the country’s top religious authority, last week adressed the European parliament, announcing the Dutch radical rightwing politician Geert Wilders will bear responsibility if his islam-movie leads to violence. According to Wilders’ saying in his movie he will denounce the Koran. The grand mufti, anticipating Wilders will be seen in his film tearing into pieces or burning the Koran-book, warned the parliament: “ this will simply mean he is inciting wars and bloodshed. It is the responsibility of the Dutch people to stop him”.
It is already known the Dutch government is anticipating and taking precautions if violent protest will follow the scheduled broadcast of Wilders’ provocative movie. The Netherlands and Dutch expats in moslimcountries specifically, are fearing the worst. Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende has already spoken out, saying the media are to blame as well because of all the publicity ahead of the movie. As a matter of fact Wilders is keeping the Dutch media in his hold.
According to Peter Vasterman, media-sociologist of Amsterdam University, the commotion surrounding the Wilders’ movie meets all characteristics of a genuine media-hype. The Dutch media, it seems, do not know how to handle this case. It is a situation in which actions call for reactions and the turmoil is getting its own dynamics. Media have to take care different groups of the population are not being incited against each other. And indeed, the media do bear a huge responsibility.

Our questions to all of you:

Do the media have to keep some distance when the feelings are running high, without giving in to publish all the news that is fit to print ?
What is the attitude of your newspaper/radio/tvstation/website in a situation like this?
Is there a specific role of an ombudsman in this case?

We are looking forward to your comments. Thanks in advance. Our website: www.media-ombudsman.com.;www.media-ombudsman.nl.

Jan van Groesen, president Media-ombudsman The Netherlands
Kees Haak, vice-president