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Dutch MP in UK to show Islam film Dutch MP in UK shows Islam film
(about 5 hours later)
Controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders has arrived in the UK to show his anti-Islam film after overturning a ban on entering the country. Controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders has shown his anti-Islam film in the UK's House of Lords after overturning a ban on entering the country.
Mr Wilders, who has been accused of Islamaphobia, leads the Freedom Party. After the screening, the Freedom Party leader told a press conference Islam and democracy are "incompatible".
He will show his film Fitna to MPs and peers as a guest of Baroness Cox and UK Independence Party leader Lord Pearson.
Mr Wilders attempted to enter the UK last February, but was ordered to fly back to the Netherlands hours later. The ban was overturned in October.Mr Wilders attempted to enter the UK last February, but was ordered to fly back to the Netherlands hours later. The ban was overturned in October.
The Home Office said it is opposed to "extremism in all its forms".
Mr Wilders said the film and subsequent discussion was attended by around 60 people.
He told the press conference called for an end to immigration to Europe from Islamic countries, but said Muslims who agreed to obey the law of the land would be welcome to stay.
Several hundred members of the English Defence League (EDL) marched past the Houses of Parliament in supported of the Dutch politician.
Flanked by mounted police, they chanted football songs and waved Cross of St George flags.
They were kept apart from dozens of anti-fascist demonstrators, who gathered outside the Houses of Parliament, by police officers.
I think the EDL are a racist, homophobic, Nazi party and they shouldn't be allowed to march in our streets Yasmin RassoolUnite Against Fascism
The Unite Against Fascism, organisation protested against the visit of Mr Wilders and the EDL march.
Yasmin Rassool from the group said: "I think the EDL are a racist, homophobic, Nazi party and they shouldn't be allowed to march in our streets."
The Dutch politician is a guest of cross-bencher Baroness Cox and UK Independence Party leader Lord Pearson.
Lady Cox said the visit had been a victory for free speech, saying: "You don't have to agree but it is important to debate sensibly in a responsible and very democratic way."
A Home Office spokesman said the government "regrets the decision by Baroness Cox and Lord Pearson to invite Geert Wilders to the House of Lords for a private showing of his film Fitna".
"However, we currently have no reason to deny Mr Wilders admission to the UK," he added.
Controversial film
The Freedom Party recently made major gains in local elections in the Netherlands, becoming the biggest party in the medium-sized city of Almere and the second largest in The Hague, which is the country's political capital.The Freedom Party recently made major gains in local elections in the Netherlands, becoming the biggest party in the medium-sized city of Almere and the second largest in The Hague, which is the country's political capital.
The Dutch MP has called the Koran a "fascist book".The Dutch MP has called the Koran a "fascist book".
His film caused outrage across the Muslim world when it was posted on the internet in 2008.His film caused outrage across the Muslim world when it was posted on the internet in 2008.
Controversial film
Fitna's opening scenes show a copy of the Koran followed by footage of the 9/11 attacks in the US and the bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005.Fitna's opening scenes show a copy of the Koran followed by footage of the 9/11 attacks in the US and the bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005.
Mr Wilders has had 24-hour protection for the past five years after receiving death threats for his views.Mr Wilders has had 24-hour protection for the past five years after receiving death threats for his views.
There was no sign of any protests when Mr Wilders arrived at London's Heathrow airport on Friday morning.
However, demonstrators are expected at Westminster later.
The Dutch politician had been due to show his film at the House of Lords last year when the then home secretary Jacqui Smith said his presence had the potential to "threaten community harmony and therefore public safety", prompting the ban on him entering the country.The Dutch politician had been due to show his film at the House of Lords last year when the then home secretary Jacqui Smith said his presence had the potential to "threaten community harmony and therefore public safety", prompting the ban on him entering the country.
Explaining his controversial views last October, Mr Wilders said: "I have a problem with the Islamic ideology, the Islamic culture, because I feel that the more Islam that we get in our societies, the less freedom that we get."
Lord Pearson, who invited Mr Wilders, has condemned radical Islam as a "world domination movement".
In a pre-election interview last month, Lord Pearson described the Dutch politician as a "friend" and denied accusations that his own party was "radical" after it called for face coverings - such as the veil worn by some Muslim women - to be banned.
He asked: "Is it radical to wish to protect British society and our Judeo-Christian culture from the growing influence of radical Islam?"
Lord Pearson, who has insisted that his party is "absolutely non-racist" and made clear he was not referring to moderate Muslims, argued that the political establishment is "asleep" to the expansionist aims of radical Islam.