Thousands protest anti-Koran film

Dutch lawmaker's movie declares book is fascist

About 3,000 people gathered in Amsterdam to protest a short film by lawmaker Geert Wilders (depicted in poster) yesterday. (OLAF KRAAK/AFP/Getty Images)

AMSTERDAM - About 3,000 demonstrators of all races crowded Amsterdam's central square yesterday, braving wind and sleet to show their opposition to anti-immigration lawmaker Geert Wilders.

The protest, called "Netherlands Shows Its Colors," is primarily a reaction in advance to the short film Wilders said he will release later this month criticizing the Koran as a "fascist" book.

One protester carried a sign that read "standing together against the right wing populist witchhunt."

"I'm very much against Geert Wilders and racism in general, but I think it's really important to show not only Holland but the rest of the world that there's a lot of people who do not agree with his ideas," Elisa Trepp said.

Wilders, who has said he is not racist, heads a reactionary party with nine seats in the 150-member Dutch Parliament, elected on an anti-immigration platform.

While the contents of his 15-minute movie, due to be released by March 31, are unknown, Wilders has said it will underscore his view that the book is fascist.

Dutch officials fear the movie could spark violent protests in Muslim countries, similar to those two years ago after the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper.

But no prominent politicians were among those who turned up for the demonstration, to the frustration of some attendees.

"The government could really do something. That's in the interest of the country - stop him, just stop him," said Hassan Iaeti, who traveled hours from the far south of the country to attend.

He said Wilders is abusing the right to freedom of speech, which he said has limits. "You can criticize Muslims themselves, but not their religion and not our prophet - that's our belief."

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has said that while he rejects the views of Wilders, he supports his freedom of speech. But he has warned Wilders the film may put Dutch national interests at risk. Protesters in Afghanistan burnt Wilders in effigy Friday and demanded Dutch troops withdraw from the NATO mission there.

In November 2004, a Muslim extremist killed Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh for perceived insults to Islam. Wilders, under constant police protection, said it is his duty to speak out against what he sees as a threat to Dutch culture posed by Islam.

A Dutch court will hear a complaint filed by Muslim groups seeking to bar Wilders from releasing the film and punish him for earlier anti-Islam remarks under hate crime laws.

The case initiated by the Dutch Islamic Federation will be heard Friday.