Dutch Won`t Prosecute Anti-Islam MP Over Film

Wilders welcomed the ruling and said he had been careful to limit his criticism to the religion of Islam and not Muslims.

Dutch prosecutors said on Monday they will not take action against a politician who angered Muslims worldwide with a film critical of the Koran because he is protected by the right to free speech.

Prosecutors received dozens of requests for an investigation after anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders produced a film in March which accuses Islam of inciting violence, prompting protests and condemnation in many Muslim countries.

They had also received complaints about comments Wilders made in newspaper interviews including one in which he compared Islam's holy book Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

"That comments are hurtful and offensive for a large number of Muslims does not mean that they are punishable," Dutch prosecutors said in a statement, adding they saw no grounds for prosecuting Wilders for inciting hatred or discrimination.

"Freedom of expression fulfils an essential role in public debate in a democratic society. Than means that offensive comments can be made in a political debate."

Wilders' right-wing Freedom Party has nine out of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament.

"Politicians need to have room to voice their opinions."

The film has sparked calls for boycotts of Dutch products in some Muslim countries, but has not lead to the kind of violence that was directed against Denmark in 2006 after newspapers there published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

Wilders welcomed the ruling and said he had been careful to limit his criticism to the religion of Islam and not Muslims, but said he was still concerned about a case Jordan has launched against him that could limit his freedom to travel.

"Insulting or not, in a political debate you have to be able to tell the truth. I have not crossed the line. I will continue doing what I have done," Wilders told NOS public television.

Prosecutors said Wilders was not inciting hatred of Muslims because he did not call for acts of violence against them.

A Dutch anti-discrimination group, The Netherlands Shows its Colours, said it would appeal the prosecutors' decision and wanted a Dutch court to judge Wilders' statements.

"Wilders and other party members are not only attacking Islam but also Muslims as a group and numerous other minorities," the group said in a statement.

Prosecutors said they are still investigating a Dutch cartoonist, working under the name Gregorius Nekschot, who has published images that mock Islam and Muslims and who was briefly detained in May, a spokeswoman told reporters.