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And Muslim “multiculturalists” are threatening legal action.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Protesters already have torched Dutch flags in Afghanistan ahead of a new Dutch film portraying Islam’s holy book as a “fascist” text that incites violence and preaches the oppression of women and homosexuals.

A Dutch Cabinet minister postponed his trip to Somalia on Friday due to “specific threats” linked to the film, and the Dutch government has urged lawmaker Geert Wilders to scrap his film for the safety of its citizens abroad.

But Wilders said Monday he has begun negotiations with Dutch broadcasters about airing the 15-minute film, “Fitna.” He said he will only allow them to show it in its entirety, and if they refuse, he plans to show it to the media and post it on the Internet.

“We have never learned to be intolerant toward people who are intolerant toward us, toward cultures that are intolerant toward us,” he said in a recent Associated Press interview. ...

The film “Fitna” — an Arabic word meaning discord — puts the centuries-old Dutch traditions of religious tolerance and freedom of speech on a collision course.

If it airs, Dutch Muslims are expected to file criminal complaints for racial or religious vilification. Prosecutors would then have to decide whether to charge Wilders with any offense.

“Our law is very clear — anybody can make a film. We have freedom of expression and you cannot restrict that,” says Moroccan-born Sadik Harchaoui, chief of the Forum Institute for Multicultural Development.

“Can you offend people? The answer is yes. I’m not saying you should do it or it is desirable, but you can,” he added. “But if the film is insulting and preaches hate, then the law has to take action.”

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has added a new core value to Dutch society, and he calls it “respect.”

The Dutch government says it cannot ban the film but is attempting to distance itself from Wilders, the leader of the Freedom Party, which holds nine of Parliament’s 150 seats.

“It is our responsibility to make clear to everyone that the views and actions of this one elected representative are not those of the government,” Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told reporters last week. “We defend the core values of freedom and respect. We guarantee freedom of expression and of religion, for Muslims as for everyone else.”

A better word than “respect” would be “fear.”

UPDATE at 3/4/08 8:56:11 am:

Wilders has now agreed to pre-screen the film with the Netherlands’ anti-terror coordinator.

UPDATE at 3/4/08 8:58:30 am:

Wilders says Dutch PM Balkenende is “a weak, frightened man who gives way to threats.”