The 15-minute film, produced in 2008 by the Iranian born, Dutch-naturalized filmmaker Ehsan Jami, depicts a news interview with an actor with a paper mask on his face pretending to be the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The members of NSHR’s Makkah province branch told the ambassador when he visited their office in Jeddah that freedom of speech does not mean attacking and abusing the symbols of Islam.
“The issue is now before the court in the Netherlands. It will take the final decision on the matter,” said the ambassador.
Six Dutch Muslim organizations issued a joint statement when the film was released dismissing it as a “tepid piece of fluff” and canceled a joint press conference claiming the film didn’t warrant the effort.
The NSHR officials and the Dutch delegation discussed a number of issues related to human rights, including the situation of Arab and Muslim communities in the Netherlands, reports of the International Human Rights Society, marriage of minors and labor issues.
Hussein Al-Sharief, supervisor of the branch, said the Dutch delegation came as part of a mutual visit. NSHR officials had earlier visited Holland. Hamburger commended NSHR’s efforts to promote a culture of human rights in the country.
