Anti-Islam film Fitna' distributor's son embraces Islam at Peace Convention

[email protected] (CD Network)
April 22, 2014
Dubai, Apr 22: The famous Dutch policy maker and distributor of an anti-Islam film Fitna' Arnoud van Doorn's son Iskander Amien De Vrie has accepted Islam along with three dozen other non-Muslims during the Dubai International Peace Convention.

Iskander Amien De Vrie surprised the audiences at the three-day Dubai International Peace Convention by embracing Islam.

“I bear witness that there is no God to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his worshipper and last messenger,” said Iskander in his Shahadah (testimony) to become a Muslim.

Arnoud van Doorn shot to fame six years ago as one of the names associated with the anti-Muslim film Fitna, which was released in 2008. The film promoted misconceptions about Islam which led to massive unrest across the world in 2008.

Five years later, Arnoud was a changed man having learned more about Islam, which he today calls as a religion of peace'. He reverted to Islam after learning more about the religion and his decision shocked the world.

“I saw my father become more peaceful after accepting Islam. That's when I realized there is something good in this religion and it made me change my perception of Muslims. I started studying the Holy Quran and going through lectures of important scholars,” said Iskander.

Thanks college friend

22-year-old Iskander credited his college friend Younis for setting a good example of what Muslims really are and how they live their life. “My friend Younis is a good practicing Muslim who taught me something new every day. He was patient with me and there was no way I could be rude to him,” said Iskander.

Iskander also drew inspiration from his father's life and how he underwent a transformation to become a more peaceful person.

Talking about the anti-Islamic movie Fitna, Arnoud called it a “mistake”, which he deeply regretted. “There is a misconception among people that I produced the movie Fitna, but I wasn't involved in it. I was only responsible for distributing the movie. Today, it is something that I deeply regret.”

Arnoud hopes to produce a movie about the righteousness preached in Islam and correct his earlier “mistakes”. “I feel an urge and a responsibility to correct the mistakes I have done in the past. I want to use my talents and skills in a positive way by spreading the truth about Islam. I am trying to make a new movie about Islam and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It would show people what examples the Prophet set in his life and the movie would invite younger people to Islam.”

With both the father and son now leading life as Muslims, the astonishing story was talked about by speakers and scholars even after the convention was over.

Arnoud is now calling on people to support his Islamic Foundation, which is fighting Islamophobia in Europe. Having started the European Dawah Foundation, Arnoud has come a full circle from his earlier days as a member of the right-wing anti-Islam Freedom Party.

His team of volunteers works towards bridging the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims and helping people clear their misconceptions about Islam.

Iskander now plans to take a trip to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and hopes his mother would also embrace Islam soon.

Also Read: Holland's former anti- Islam politician visits Prophet's Masjid after embracing Islam; says sorry for Fitna'

peace

Iskander (left) with his father Arnoud

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News Network
December 16,2024

Mangaluru, Dec 16: A tragic incident unfolded at Someshwara beach on Monday when a woman, participating in the Pinda Pradhana ritual for her late brother-in-law, lost her life after drowning.

The deceased, Usha (72), was the wife of the late Jagadish Bhandary from Derebail. She had traveled to Someshwara with her relatives to perform the ritual for her brother-in-law, Karunakar Bhandary, who had passed away recently.

After completing the ceremony, Usha and her relatives went for a sea bath as part of the rites. Tragically, Usha slipped and was swept away by the strong waves. Though her relatives cried out for help, locals who rushed into the sea could only retrieve her lifeless body. She was declared dead when brought to shore.

Usha had retired after a 40-year career as an assistant secretary at the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA). She is survived by her daughter.

The body has been sent to K S Hegde Hospital in Deralakatte for postmortem, and a case has been registered at the Ullal police station.

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News Network
December 16,2024

hajabba.jpg

In a significant milestone, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School in Newpadpu, Harekala, has introduced a bilingual Kannada-English medium this academic year, a move spearheaded by Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba. The school has so far received 13 admissions for its Class 1 bilingual program.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the state government, which approved 38 schools across the district to launch bilingual mediums. Expressing his delight, Hajabba shared that he had been advocating for a bilingual school for years. "The bilingual medium will greatly benefit students in this region who otherwise rely on private schools. However, we currently face a shortage of classrooms. Construction of two additional classrooms is underway, and once completed, we expect higher admissions," he said.

The school had previously been permitted to introduce LKG and UKG classes in the last academic year. According to the school’s headmistress, Rajeshwari, while the pre-primary sections have seen good enrolment, the bilingual Class 1 faced challenges, securing only 13 students. She attributed this to the late notification of permission, which arrived a month after the academic year began, leading many children to enroll elsewhere.

Rajeshwari remains optimistic about the future. "We expect better admissions next academic year as awareness about bilingual education at this government school grows," she said, adding that the classroom shortage will soon be addressed.

Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Venkatesha Subraya Patagara noted that bilingual schools across Dakshina Kannada have generally received a positive response, with some schools enrolling more than 100 students. The effort to offer bilingual education in government schools marks a step forward in providing affordable, quality education to underserved regions.

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News Network
December 10,2024

Mangaluru: In a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking online, a man from Mangaluru fell victim to a sophisticated investment scam, losing a staggering ₹16.9 lakh. The fraudsters, posing as investment advisors, lured the victim via a WhatsApp group with promises of lucrative returns in the share market.

The trap was set when the victim clicked on a link sent by the fraudsters and downloaded a suspicious app. Over time, he transferred substantial sums of money to the fraudsters’ bank accounts, believing he was making profitable investments.

The scam unraveled when the victim tried to withdraw his money but found himself unable to do so. Realizing he had been duped, he lodged a complaint with the Mangaluru Rural Police, who have since registered a case and launched an investigation.

Be cautious

Always verify the authenticity of financial offers, especially when approached via social media or messaging apps. Avoid clicking on unsolicited links or downloading unverified apps. Stay vigilant to protect your hard-earned money from scammers.

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