by AS’AD ABUKHALIL
Arnoud van Doorn, former member of the anti-Islamist Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ party and personal friend of his, has declared last month his conversion to Islam.
European media reported that Doorn, who was a member of Wilders’ right-wing Freedom Party until the end of 2011 and helped produce the anti-Islam film “Fitna,” said that he had made a fresh start by announcing on Twitter his decision to embrace Islam and took the Shahadah (Declaration of Faith).
Following his decision to become Muslim, Doorn was hosted in Saudi Arabia this week where he visited the holy city of Mecca and performed Umrah. He later headed to Medina to visit the Prophet’s Mosque. During his visit, Doorn met the imams of the Prophet’s Mosque as well as Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques, who reportedly gave Doorn an English translation of Quran. According to Islam Memo site, the visit was co-sponsored by the Saudi Ministry of Interior.
The following is the report from the Saudi Gazette.
Ex-Islamophobe to produce film on Prophet
by MAJID SUGAIRI
Former Dutch Islamophobe Arnoud Van Doorn unveiled plans to produce an international film on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Islam.
In an exclusive interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Doorn, who reverted to Islam last month, said 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 (peace be upon him) through the film ‘Fitna’,” he said.
Doorn, a former leading member of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ party, visited Saturday the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to pray and say sorry for becoming part of the blasphemous film. Doorn was among the Freedom Party leaders who produced the film, Fitna.
Saudi Gazette for more
(Thanks to Robin Khundkar)