When a 17-year-old US high school student was shown Dutch politician Geert Wilders' anti-Islam film Fitna she was so upset that her father complained to the school where it was shown.
 
Bill Cruey says his daughter Amber was so disturbed by what she saw on September 11 this year that at first she could not even talk about it.

Listen to Newsline's interview with Bill Cruey

 
Anti-Islam
The 15-minute film, released on internet last year by the populist politician and leader of the Dutch Freedom Party, Geert Wilders, argues that Islam promotes hatred and that the growth of Islamic influence in Europe must be halted. It was shown to students as part of a commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. It was followed by a discussion led by a teacher.
 
In the days that followed, questions were raised about the appropriateness of showing such a film in school; both because of its graphic content, which includes images of dead bodies, preparations for beheadings and bombings and because, according to many critics, it promotes false, inflammatory stereotypes of the Islamic faith.
 
Mr Cruey says that his daughter's initial reaction was exactly that.
 
"At first she was a little upset about the religion of Islam, but we talked to her and we told her that in every group there are good sides and bad sides and don't judge the group but judge the person, the heart, the individual."
 
Positive discussion
While the authorities at Pulaski County High School apologised to Bill Cruey, the initial furore gave way to a positive discussion about Islam and the need for mutual understanding between faiths.
 
"Some of things in that film, even if they were true events, I don't think they represent the whole population of those people. I don't think people can pinpoint that whole group and say they're like that," says Mr Cruey.
 
He adds that his daughter has recovered well, has received counselling through the school, and that moves are now in place to show students different aspects of Islam. His daughter has been inspired to try to bring the various elements within her local community together. 
 
"She is looking to form a humanitarian part in our town where people from all different ethnic groups and religions can come together and have a committee to make sure this stuff doesn't happen and to make sure we can all get along."
 
Mr Cruey says his daughter has now set up a Facebook page called 'Come Together' to promote her cause.