Dutch anti-Muslim film brings call for PR

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, March 3 (UPI) -- Feared fallout from a new film critical of Islam has one Dutch lawmaker calling for a pre-emptive public-relations campaign by all of Europe.

Alexander Pechtold, a member of the Netherlands parliament, said Monday that Europe must publicly explain the values of freedom of expression and democracy in order to prevent a backlash to the film produced by right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders.

"Here we are accustomed to democracy and freedom of expression but not everyone abroad is," Pechtold told Radio Netherlands.

Wilders' pending release has worried the Dutch government. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has warned that the film could lead to retaliation by Muslim terrorists against Dutch civilians and its soldiers stationed in Afghanistan.