Dutch Zionist Geert Wilders' Film "Fitna" Causes Teenager to Seek Counseling - Wilders Banned From Hotel in Nashville

SOMERSET, Ky. (Sept. 22) -- A 17-year-old student is seeking counseling after her class at Pulaski County High School watched a short film that showed beheadings and other violence allegedly committed by Muslims, her father said Tuesday.

Bill Cruey said his daughter Amber was horrified by images of children being injured and dead bodies interspersed with readings from the Quran while watching the film "Fitna," made by the anti-Islam and anti-immigration Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders. The film was shown to the class on Sept. 11.

"She's very upset with all of this," Cruey told The Associated Press.

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Cruey said he pulled his daughter from the leadership class that viewed the film.

Pulaski County Superintendent Tim Eaton said Tuesday that the teacher's intent was to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and discuss the dangers of extremism — "not only of Muslims but other viewpoints, too."

"The intent of the lesson and discussion was very appropriate," Eaton said. "However, the teacher's choice of the clip was not appropriate, and that's been dealt with.

"It was poor judgment on this teacher's part."

Eaton declined to say what action was taken against the teacher, calling it a personnel issue.

Eaton said the film was shown to about 10 students in the leadership class.

Cruey said his daughter was so upset by the scenes that a counseling session has been scheduled.

"She said she has to talk to somebody about it because those images are really upsetting her still," he said. "She can't believe people can be that cruel to each other."

Since the controversy arose, he said his daughter has been ridiculed and feels like an outcast at the school.

"She stood up for what's right, and then everybody's kind of teasing her," he said.

Aly A. Farag, imam at a Louisville mosque, criticized the school for exposing students to a "very tilted and utterly hateful message about a religion."

"They are blatantly and willingly participating in smearing a religion in front of kids who do not have the full picture," said Farag, a University of Louisville engineering professor.

Presenting such a message can turn children into "haters, not peacemakers," he said. Farag said almost all Muslims "never showed any pride in Sept. 11, never associated with it, never wanted it to happen."

The film sparked violent protests around the Muslim world last year for linking Quranic verses with footage of terrorist attacks.

Since then, Britain has barred Wilders from entering that country because of his anti-Islamic views.

In the United States, a Nashville, Tenn., hotel turned away a conference in May that featured Wilders. The Loews Vanderbilt Hotel said it canceled the event for the safety and health of guests and employees.

Below - Wilder's anti-Muslim speech applauded at synagogue:


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More on Wilders:

http://wakeupfromyourslumber.blogspot.com/2009/07/dutch-zionist-geert-wilders-at-it-again.html

http://wakeupfromyourslumber.blogspot.com/2009/08/turks-turn-dutch-zionist-geert-wilders.html