Wilders decides against press conference on film 12/03/2008 00:00

Freedom party PVV leader Geert Wilders will not give a press conference to present his anti-Koran film Fitna.

12 March 2008

THE HAGUE – Freedom party PVV leader Geert Wilders will not give a press conference to present his anti-Koran film Fitna. He is putting "all his efforts" into ensuring that the film can be seen on the internet at the end of this month.

Since no broadcaster was willing to show Fitna in its entirety, Wilders had planned to present the film in press centre Nieuwspoort in The Hague. But in that case he would have to cover the costs of security for the building himself. That would cost several hundred thousand euro, the politician said.

His calculations are based on a risk analysis which indicates that various security measures would be necessary before and after the press presentation.

"It is too expensive", Wilders said Tuesday. He does not want to ask the government for the money. Nor will Parliament look for an alternative location since that would lead to further talks and delay.

If no Dutch or foreign broadcaster offers to show Fitna in its entirety, Wilders will put the film on the internet.

He would like to do that as soon as possible but it still requires a great deal of preparation, to prevent the website from being blocked by mass numbers of visitors clicking on the film at the same time for instance.

In the corridors of the parliament buildings on Tuesday Wilders called on the prime minister and foreign minister to condemn the demonstrations against Fitna which have involved burning of the Dutch flag, as has occurred several times in Afghanistan.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2008]