Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 2013-04-26

A Former Dutch Islamophobe Arnoud Van Doorn unveiled plans to produce an international film on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Islam to "repair the damage" he believes he had previously caused.

Doorn who reverted to Islam last month told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that he will devote his life fully to spread the true message of Islam and the Prophet of Mercy through promoting the film across the world.

“I will spare no efforts to protect the rights of Muslims in all European countries as well as to serve Islam and its followers throughout the world. I will try my best to repair the damage that I caused to Islam and its Prophet through the film ‘Fitna’,” he said.

The former leading member of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ party visited Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Masjid in Madina on Saturday to pray and apologize for becoming part of the blasphemous film.

In Makkah he was received by Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, and other presidency officials. He performed Umrah thereafter.

In the interview, Doorn said that he regrets being a part of such an offensive film. “However, now it is a closed chapter and absolutely I don’t want to recall about it. The film that sparked widespread reactions was a totally wrong step on our part as it contains a lot of misleading and incorrect information that are nothing to with this noble divine religion and its Prophet (PBUH),”

He added that he wants to do some remedial work so as to minimize the damage caused by ‘Fitna' and decided, in cooperation with the Toronto-based CDA, to produce an international film aimed at removing misgivings about Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

“I will use all my experience in producing an alternative film, which will speak about the true image of Islam and all aspects of the personality of the Prophet as well as his great qualities.”

Umar Mirza a columnist and chief editor of Muslim blog Wijblijvenhier who very humorously refers to himself as a direct descendant of Adam (AS) told Radio Islam's Moulana Yusuf Omar that Doorn tweeted the Shahadah in Arabic.

Mirza highlights that Doorn was researching and looking for faults in the books of Quraan and Hadith to portray in his film and articles. Instead he was overwhelmed by the beauty and the qualities that have been mentioned in the Quraan and Hadith.

Mirza said the Doorn was very warmly received by the Dutch Muslim Society after his reversion although there were initial questions that were raised about his intentions.

Meanwhile Doorn said that he was amazed to see the intensity of love and affection Muslims have for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “I also realized the intensity of hatred that some Westerners have against Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) and that was based apparently on their ignorance and prejudice.

Doorn took a pledge in front of the grave of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that he would strive to spread his true message and his great qualities that are instrumental in promoting peace and harmonious relations among the people worldwide.