'Anti-Islam' film pulled from website following threats
Saturday, 29 Mar 2008 15:56
Liveleak.com has pulled Geert Wilders' film from its website
An 'anti-Islam' film has been pulled from the website Liveleak.com after its staff received threats.
The film, by the controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders, features pictures of the terrorist attacks in New York and Madrid at the same time as texts from the Koran.
"Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers," a statement from Liveleakcom said.
Other websites such as YouTube are still showing the film, which has been widely criticised by Muslims.
The film's creator Mr Wilders has described he decision to pull the film as "a serious blow to freedom of expression".
Iran has called on the US and Britain to end the screening of the film as soon as possible, while protests have also been made in the Netehrlands.
Mr Wilders is the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party, which holds anti-immigration beliefs, and yesterday two cars in Utrecht were set on fire in protest at the film, titled Fitna.
Liveleak also described the decision as a sad day for freedom of speech but maintained that the company has to place the "safety and well-being of our staff above all else".