Anti-Muslim lawmaker barred from England

LONDON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A controversial Dutch politician has been denied entry to Britain for a showing of his anti-Muslim film to the House of Lords, lawmakers said Friday.

Geert Wilders, a member of the Netherlands parliament, had been invited to Westminster by a member of the House of Lords to show a 17-minute film "Fitna," in which the Koran is described as a "fascist book," the Times of London reported.

But British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told Wilders not to come because his opinions would threaten security. Wilders came anyway, flying from Amsterdam to London where he was taken into custody and advised he was being sent back home.

"Is this how Great Britain welcomes a democrat?" Wilders said as he was being led away.

Earlier, Wilders launched into a verbal attack on the Britrish government as "the biggest bunch of cowards in Europe."

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said the Netherlands would press for a reversal of the travel ban.

Wilders urged the Dutch government to ban the Koran and warned of a "tsunami" of Islam swamping the Netherlands. His film reportedly links verses in the religious text with footage of terrorist attacks, sparking violent protests in the Muslim world last year.