Anti-fascism campaigners oppose Geert Wilders who says he hates Islamism - not Muslims

His appearance was met by protestors from Unite Against Fascism who said that the ban against him entering Britain should have been upheld.

Mr Wilders, who is currently on trial for hate speech in his home country, was originally barred from entering Britain in February last year by the then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The decision was subsequently overturned in October by a court.

Koran incites "hatred and violence

Following the showing of Fitna, which means “division” in Arabic, Wilders said at a press conference, “I think this is a victory - not so much for me because I’m not important – but for freedom of speech”.

Mr Wilders said that charges of hate speech against him were unjustified, “I cannot emphasise enough that I have nothing against Islam. I have nothing against other people. I am against the ideology of Islamism,” he said. “I reject everything to do with violence and hate”.

The Dutch MP compared Islamism to Communism and Nazism and reiterated his belief that the Koran should be banned. He said, “You have to look at it in a Dutch context. A few years ago the Dutch Parliament banned Mein Kampf and not a single leftist politician said anything against it on the grounds of freedom of speech.”

“If you are consistent that books that incite violence and hatred like Main Kampf should be banned then you should also ban the Koran”.

He claimed that if pages that incited violence and hatred were torn from the Koran all that would remain would be “a Donald Duck book”, whilst he referred to Islam’s founder as “a so-called prophet… a barbarian and a paedophile”.

“I believe Islam is a violent and dangerous religion and a retarded culture,” he said, emphasising his hardline views.

He said that immigrants from Islamic countries brought with them their own Islamic culture which was not compatible with Dutch culture, which he said was based on “Christianity, Judaism and Humanism”.

”Political trial”

Because of his views he has required constant protection for five and a half years after receiving death threats from Islamists.

He said that while he used democratic means he was opposed by “people who don’t use democratic means. They use death threats, threats of violence and fatwas.”

On his lifestyle of having to live under constant guard because of his views he said, “It’s worth it. I paid a high price for it.”

On his trial he said, “It’s a political trial. Instead of being taken to the Dutch Parliament for a debate, I have been taken to court”.

During his trial Mr Wilder’s called for 18 witnesses to testify for the defence, most of whom were to speak on freedom of speech and on Islam. However 15 of the proposed witnesses were rejected by the court. Some of those he called were Muslim fundamentalists whom he hoped would demonstrate his views were valid.

Despite the controversy surrounding Mr Wilders, his Freedom Party is currently leading in the polls ahead of a general election due in early June, opening up the possibility that he could be Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Mr Wilders said his party’s popularity was a result of ordinary people being “ignored by the political elite”.

Should his party form a government he said it would stop immigration from Muslim countries, close down Muslim schools, oppose Turkish entry into the EU, oppose the introduction of more mosques in Holland and would increase funding for the elderly.

Despite this he said that should he form a government law-abiding Muslims would have nothing to fear from his party and that only extremists would face deportation.

Wilders’ film “inflammatory and anti-Muslim”

Protestors from Unite Against Fascism gathered outside the Houses of Parliament to demonstrate against a march in support of Mr Wilders by the English Defence League.

Paul Machney, co-founder of UAF, said, “Wilders is not welcome here. He should be banned from coming here. I think Islamophobia leads to fascism.”

Meanwhile Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Wales, signed an open letter which described Mr Wilders’ film as “inflammatory and anti-Muslim”.

He also spoke out against the march by the English Defence League in support of Mr Wilders saying, “The English Defence League, together with their allies the BNP, represent a racist and fascist threat – not just to Muslims but to our Black, Asian and Jewish citizens too. I hope there will be a big mobilisation to oppose their march on Parliament."

A spokesperson for the Home Office said, “The Government regrets the decision by Baroness Cox and Lord Pearson to invite Geert Wilders to the House of Lords for a private showing of his film Fitna. However we currently have no reason to deny Mr Wilders admission to the UK.”

“The Government continues to oppose extremism in all its forms and retains the right to refuse foreign nationals, including European Union citizens access to the UK if we believe they represent a threat to security or our society.”

“The behaviour of foreign nationals while in the UK will be taken into consideration when considering granting access to the country in the future.”

However Lord Pearson of Rannoch, who originally invited Mr Wilders to show his film and subsequently became leader of UKIP, said Mr Wilders was, “a very brave man” and added, “Geert is going to the House of Lords in a bullet proof car. You should ask yourselves why.” However he also said that he did not agree with everything Mr Wilders said.

Baroness Cox also said that today was “an important day for freedom of speech”.