August 26, 2008 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Independent, cybercrime observer Zone-H.org (zone-h.org) has reported that Islamic hacker communities are involved in the latest online "hacktivism" addressing perceived Dutch Islamophobia, particularly member of parliament Geert Wilders' controversial film released earlier this year.
The attacks began Friday, affecting over 200 websites according to Zone-H.org data, on a single IP address owned by Gouda, Netherlands-based hosting company Geenpunt.nl, located about 60 miles south of Amsterdam. The attacks were attributed to nEt^DeViL, which left a message on hacked websites asserting an "Anti-Fitna"-stance. Fitna is an Arabic word for "disagreement and division among people" and also the title of Wilders' film that is critical of Islam.
"Anti-Fitna ( Response to the Fitna Movie by 'Geert Wilders' Cow ! )" nEt^DeViL stated on the affected websites. "This hax0ring is to defend ISLAM - The Religion of [ Abraham, Moses, Jesus & Muhammad ( Peace Be Upon Them All ) ] that Insulted by a Cow ! from Netherlands ! Show Some Respect ! so , I can Leave you in Peace ! [ You've Started it ! ] , I don't have problems with your site but, that what Geert Wilders Cow! chose for you ;) If you think that " Insulting GOD Religion is a Freedom of Speech as your country did , then allow me to show you my Freedom knowledge of Hacking ;) "
This, however, has not been the first online response to Geert Wilders' film. In April, UK video host LiveLeak (liveleak.com) removed his documentary after receiving complaints and threats despite the site's "strict stance on remaining unbiased and allowing freedom of speech within the boundaries of law."
The nEt^DeViL attack, however, is the latest form of "Hacktivism" against the perceived insensitivity of the Dutch government and people to Islam. It follows the massive online response to political cartoons published in a Dutch newspaper in 2006, when more than 600 websites were hacked, bringing worldwide attention to the potentially offensive cartoons.
The Muslim population in 2004, the most current government figure, was approaching one million or 4.4 percent of the population, but Muslim immigration from top emigration hubs such as Turkey and Morocco has been decreasing in recent years because of new immigration restrictions.
Advocacy and research group Open Society Institute recently released a report entitled "Muslims in the EU: Cities Report, The Netherlands," stating that Muslims have not been integrating well into Dutch society, nor has the native Dutch population been welcoming. Roughly two-thirds of Turkish and Moroccan immigrants predominantly associate with members of their own ethnic group and a similar proportion of native Dutch "have little or no contact at all with immigrants."
