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Dutch lawmaker gets death threat over Koran film
BRUSSELS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — Terrorism network Al Qaeda has reportedly issued an order to kill a Dutch lawmaker who plans to release an anti-Koran film in March, Dutch paper De Telegraaf reported Wednesday.
In a recent message on a protected web forum on the website alekhlaas.net, which has links with Al Qaeda, the terror group called on people to “slaughter” Dutch legislator Geert Wilders, the report said.
The paper quoted the message as reading, “In the name of Allah, we ask you to bring us the head of this infidel who insults Islam and Muslims and ridicules the Prophet Mohammed.”
The message honored Mohammed B., who murdered Dutch director Theo van Gogh in 2004 for making a film critical of Islam, as a hero.
The forum also calls for the “terrorization” of the Netherlands to prevent the controversial film from being shown.
“We, the Muslim people of the world, must fight against anyone who derides Islam. The Dutch do not want Muslims living in their country because they are afraid that Islam will destroy them.”
Dutch news agency ANP reported that the Dutch National Anti-terrorism Coordinator’s office has confirmed the existence of the threat.
“We are monitoring everything very closely,” a spokesperson said. “We are taking everything into account in assessing the risk to Mr Wilders.”
Wilders is the leader of the right-wing Freedom Party (PVV) which has nine seats in the lower house of the Dutch parliament. He is a highly controversial figure in the Netherlands and often causes nationwide outrage with inflammatory remarks about Islam.
He said last year that the Koran is a “fascist” book and should be banned in the Netherlands.
The threat on the internet was intercepted by U.S. research agency SITE Intelligence Group, which also furnishes the Dutch government with information, De Telegraaf reported.
The message was posted on January 28, the day after Wilders revealed that his film will portray events described in the Koran, which may include a beheading in Iraq, a stoning in Iran or an execution in Saudi Arabia.
Wilders later said his film will be entitled “Fitna” (Ordeal) and lasts about 15 minutes. Wilders has a separate website on which his Koran film will be shown.
The Dutch government has approached Wilders and expressed concern about the film, but Wilders insisted on its release. Police in a number of Dutch cities are reportedly taking precautions to prepare for any violent reactions to the film.
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