Iran protests over Dutch Quran film

Iranian media quoted the Dutch ambassador as voicing sorrow about the broadcast of the “anti-Islamic” film and emphasising that it was condemned by the Dutch government.

Mostafa Dolatyar, a senior foreign ministry official reportedly told van Vollenhoven that Wilders was supported by “Zionist circles” and that the Dutch government should act to prevent such provocations.

He also urged the Dutch government not to just condemn the film but to take legal action against Wilders.

Freedom of speech

The Dutch government has rejected the tone of Wilders’ film but insists that he had a constitutional right to produce it.

“Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are fundamental values which we will not compromise on,” it said.

The film portrays Islam as a ticking time bomb and urges Muslims “to tear out the hateful verses from the Quran”.

Wilders said he made the film because “Islam and the Quran are dangers to the preservation of freedom in the Netherlands.”

Dutch broadcasters have refused to screen the film and a US-based web service on which Wilders had planned to show his film deactivated the site after receiving complaints.

It was eventually posted on the video-sharing website LiveLeak on Thursday.