Saudi blogger posts video on violent Christian extremism

A Saudi blogger has made a short video featuring alleged Christian extremists preaching violence and a Bible passage calling for war, in response to an anti-Quran film that sparked protests across the Muslim world.

Raed al-Saeed told The Associated Press on Thursday that the purpose of his six-minute video is to show Islam should not be judged by watching Dutch filmmaker Geert Wilders' movie "Fitna," which links terror attacks by Muslim extremists with texts from the Quran.

"It is easy to take parts of any holy book that are out of (context) and make it sound like the most inhumane book ever written," al-Saeed said in a statement posted at the end of his video. "This is what Geert Wilders did to gather more supporters to his hateful ideology. To create schism."

Al-Saeed, 33, said he lifted footage showing alleged Christian extremists and British soldiers beating up Iraqis from YouTube and used the same methods Wilders did. The video appeared to include footage from "Jesus Camp," an American documentary about a summer camp for evangelical Christians that was nominated for a 2007 Academy Award.

However, al-Saeed said his movie, entitled "Schism," was not directed against Christians.

Wilders' film has angered Muslims around the world, sparking angry street protests in several countries and triggering calls for a boycott of Dutch goods.

Within 12 hours of posting, al-Saeed said his video was removed from YouTube in Saudi Arabia with a message from the site saying the content was inappropriate.

"I sent it again with a message saying, 'Before you delete Schism, look at Fitna. Delete both if you deem them inappropriate,'" he said.

Late Thursday, al-Saeed's video still could be accessed on YouTube and other Web sites, he said, adding that it had been viewed by more than 5,000 users.

Raed's blog (in Arabic) is here. The YouTube video can currently be watched here. RAW STORY has also saved a copy (below) in case YouTube deletes it again.

(with wire reports)

This video is from YouTube, broadcast April 10, 2008.



