Wilders faces arrest by Jordan over Fitna
The maker of the controversial anti-Muslim film Fitna, MP Geert Wilders, is afraid that he might be arrested while travelling abroad following a ruling by a court in Jordan earlier this week, reports Friday’s Volkskrant.
A group calling itself The Messenger of Allah Unites Us has called for an international arrest warrant against Wilders accusing him of racism, inciting hatred and insulting Islam and Muslims, reports the paper.
The group was also behind a call for a boycott of Dutch products in Jordan earlier this year. A spokesman for the foreign affairs ministry told the Telegraaf that the court had not yet issued a warrant for the arrest of Wilders, founder of the anti-immigration party PVV.
However, foreign affairs minister Maxime Verhagen is aware of the possibility that Wilders may be arrested and has ordered an analysis of the risks the MP faces.
One option would be for Amman to ask Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant, the paper says. But more likely would be for Jordan to ask foreign countries which Wilders may visit to arrest and deport the MP.
The anti-terrorism coordinator is also aware of the situation and is ‘fortunately taking it very seriously’, Wilders told the Volkskrant. The risk of arrest limits his freedom of movement ‘hugely’ and makes it impossible to carry out his work as an MP, Wilders says.
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