Iranian minister urges Dutch to ban Koran film

By Alexandra Hudson

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister on Tuesday said the Netherlands had the power to stop a right-wing Dutch lawmaker from screening a film about the Koran which has already sparked protests in the Muslim world.

Geert Wilders, who has described the Koran as "fascist" book that incites violence, plans to show his 15-minute film later this month despite mounting unrest and appeals from the Dutch government that it will harm Dutch interests abroad.

"The Netherlands is responsible ...they can stop it," said Mahdi Safari, urging the Dutch government to invoke the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of speech should not stretch to allowing Wilders to offend the rights of others, he added, citing article 29 of the declaration.

"If such a man will insist on this it is irresponsible for the world and society," Safari told journalists at a briefing after meeting Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

The Dutch government has warned the short film might spark unrest and sanctions similar to those unleashed when Danish newspapers published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in 2006.

Asked how Iran would act in response to the film Safari said: "All possibilities are on the table."

"We will show an appropriate reaction," he added.

Dutch businesses fear a loss of trade in Muslim countries and Dutch embassies are braced for attack.