Iranian government urges Netherlands to ban Quran film

Iranian officials have formally demanded the Dutch government stop the screening of a film in the Netherlands about theQuran that wasproduced by a politician.

The film,its title still under wraps,is by Dutch member of parliament Geert Wilders, who says his film shows the Muslim holy book as something that motivates people to murder.

'It's like a walk through the Qur'an.' Politican and filmmaker Geert Wilders

The Iranian justice minister, Gholam Hussein Elham, wrote to his Dutch counterpart, Ernst Hirsch Ballin, calling for a ban. He urged Ballin to prevent this "provocative and satanic act on the basis of European Convention on Human Rights.

"We must not allow the freedom of speech to be used as a cover for assaulting the sensibilities, and exalted moral and religious values which are respected by all of humanity," Elham said in the letter.

The Dutch government has refused to intervene. At the same time, it also has plans for an emergency evacuation of its nationals and diplomats from the Middle East should the Wilders film be shown.

"It's like a walk through the Qur'an," said Wilders, describing his 10-minute film to the Guardian newspaper in an interview published Sunday.

"My intention is to show the real face of Islam. I see it as a threat. I'm trying to use images to show that what's written in the Koran is giving incentives to people all over the world."

The politician has said he has nothing against Muslims, just their faith. He has also argued that theQur'an be outlawed in Holland, that immigration from Muslim countries be halted and that the building of new mosques be stopped.

May have to leave Netherlands

Wilders says he's in talks with four broadcasters and expects the film to air in the coming months.

He says he's been warned that he may have to leave the Netherlands for his own safety.

The case recalls another high-profile Dutch film, which angered Muslims.

An Islamic militant killed filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004 over his film Submission, written by former Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi-Ali.

The film contends Islam condones violence against women. It told the fictional story of a Muslim woman, trapped in a violent marriage, who is raped by a relative and then punished for adultery.

The murder sparked a violent anti-Muslim backlash and forced Hirsi-Ali into hiding.