Posted on 12/05/2007 9:55:18 AM PST by marthemaria
THE HAGUE, 04/12/07 - The Gemeentemuseum (Municipal Museum) in The Hague denies that it has allowed itself to be influenced by threats from Muslims. It was a voluntary choice to drop a work of art concerning the prophet Mohammed, a spokesman claims.
The museum decided last weekend to withdraw a number of items by the Iranian artist Sooreh Hera from an exhibition, because "certain sections of society found these offensive." A spokesman explained that museums have the freedom to choose for themselves what they display.
The Gemeentemuseum was to exhibit pictures of two gay men wearing masks of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and his son-in-law Ali. "As museum director, I do not maintain any political criteria. I am not stopped by possible security risks. I simply found it exceptional work," director Van Krimpen said last Friday. But he changed his mind over the weekend and banned the pictures.
"Muslims have threatened the museum," Hera claimed. "But the museum is not willing to admit that this is the reason why they do not wish to exhibit the works." The Iranian artist is convinced that fear is behind the rejection.
The Socialist Party (SP) on the city council of The Hague wants Hera's controversial photos displayed as planned from 15 December. SP councillor Hiek van Driel has asked the city executive to discuss with Van Krimpen what security conditions must be satisfied in order for the photos to be exhibited after all.
In the Lower House, the SP has maintained silence, like almost all the other parties. Only the Party for Freedom (PVV) has asked for a reaction from Culture Minister Ronald Plasterk.
Hera said yesterday that she is considering withdrawing all her work in protest. The decision by the Gemeentemuseum was "censorship", in her view. "The only conclusion I can draw is that Allah is indeed very great in the Netherlands and that fear rules."
The museum director remembers Theo Van Gogh.
Too bad he has to lie about his reasons. Fear of murder is the true reason.
Stupid effete snob, AND a coward.
WUSSY ALERT!
“Muslims have threatened the museum,”.....therefore, the only option is to kiss their asses!
As Winston Churchill said, "There are men in the world who derive as stern an exaltation from the proximity of disaster and ruin, as from success." I think that applies to the liberals in the Netherlands.
The spokesman went on to say, "vacant display area will be used to house our Christ in Urine exibition scheduled to run through 2020."
Yes....all over Europe when Hitler rolled over everyone.
And to the modern Western liberal who wants to see his own nation destroyed by the wonderful "Other". These lefties derive great pleasure in destroying the West. The liberal gets a great thrill to see a Muslim man walking down the street smoking a cigaragette with his wife in an abaya walking 10 paces behind carring 4 bags of groceries. And Muslims rioting, burning cars, shooting police in the suburbs of France sends the liberal into ecstacy. These are only the preludes to the great revolt and destruction the liberal longs for.
I suspect if Christians were the offended segment of society in question the museum wouldn't have taken any action whatsoever. But of course they're not afraid of Christians. ...and for good reason.
“pictures of two gay men wearing masks of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and his son-in-law Ali”
Yeah! Right! That sounds like a great work of “art.” I probably woulda removed for a different reason, thus offending all the homos in the Hague.
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