Dutch TV show feeds conspiracy theories on Osama’s 9/11 role

Dutch TV show feeds conspiracy theories on Osama’s 9/11 roleAmsterdam (The Netherlands), Apr. 16 : A fake jury that exonerated Osama bin Laden from the Sept. 11 terror attacks on America following a televised mock trial on a popular Dutch program has sent out a "disturbing" message to the world and could fuel conspiracy theories, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and other former U. S. prosecutors told FOX News.

In just 30 minutes, the jury of three men and two women who appeared on the Dutch show "Devil''s Advocate" ruled last Wednesday that there was no proof bin Laden masterminded the 9/11 attacks or that he remains the head of Al Qaeda.

The television jury did acknowledge, however, that bin Laden is a terrorist.

"It''s such a bizarre and irrational [ruling] that I don''t think it''ll have any weight with anyone, other than to fuel conspiracy theories. The clear damage it does is that it gives people who want to seize on irrational theories something else to talk about," said Giuliani.

Defense attorney Gerard Spong said he convinced the jury that bin Laden''s connection to 9/11 was the product of "hearsay" and "Western propaganda" by analyzing videos and statements the Al Qaeda leader released after the terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician and head of the country''s Party for Freedom, said the ruling could increase tensions in his home country.

Daniel French, a former U. S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, said the ruling was "offensive" and disrespectful to relatives of 9/11 victims.

"It''s dangerous in that it takes very real and tragic events and tries to make entertainment out of them," French told FOXNews. com.

"It''s offensive to anyone who understands what happened on 9/11 ... To make entertainment of [Sept. 11] is playing with history in a way that''s offensive and disrespectful."

Peter Gadiel, whose son James was killed in the 9/11 attacks, said he was "offended" by the show but has grown accustomed to conspiracy theories from all sides. (ANI)

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