Anti-Koran Dutch film "propagates hate:" Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - An anti-Koran film made by a Dutch politician is tantamount to propagating the politics of hate and xenophobia and cannot be justified, Pakistan said on Wednesday.

Anti-immigration member of the Dutch parliament Geert Wilders has given few details about the content of his film "Fitna", in which he intends to present his views about the Koran, the Muslim holy book which in the past he has called to be banned.

Wilders has said he had completed the film and was in negotiations with television stations for its broadcast, slated for March or April.

"Wilders' anti-Koran film reflects his biased, bigoted thinking," Pakistani foreign office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told a weekly briefing. "It has nothing to do with the right of freedom of expression."

The Netherlands fears the film could spark protests like those triggered by Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, in which at least 50 people were killed, including five in Pakistan, in early 2006.

The film has drawn protests in Muslim countries including Pakistan, whose upper house of parliament adopted a resolution last week condemning efforts to denigrate Islam, referring to Wilders' film and the Danish cartoons, one of which was recently reprinted.

"Bigoted and blasphemous acts such as the Danish cartoons and Wilders' film (are) tantamount to propagating politics of hate and promoting xenophobia in Europe," Sadiq said.

"This cannot be justified on any pretext."

Turkey has also voiced concern about the film and Iran called it a "provocative and Satanic" act.