Dutch Right-Wing Lawmaker Cancels Prophet Muhammad Cartoon Contest

A right-wing lawmaker in the Netherlands, who has been under police protection for years due to death threats in response to his inflammatory anti-Islamic remarks, canceled a contest for cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad on Thursday due to concerns over severe threats. According to Fox News, Geert Wilders stated in a written statement, "In order to prevent danger to victims of Islamic violence, I have decided not to hold the cartoon contest." The contest was scheduled for November at his party's office, "For Freedom," in the Dutch Parliament. Wilders, who has a long history of provocative comments about Islam, added in another part of his statement, "It's not just me. The staunch opponents of this program see not just me, but all of the Netherlands as a target." After issuing this statement, he tweeted, "Islam has once again shown its true face with death threats, violence, and fatwas. Nevertheless, the security and health of my fellow citizens come first." The Netherlands emphasized that the holding of this contest has nothing to do with the government. The Dutch Prime Minister questioned Wilders' motivation for holding the event last week, stating, "His goal is not to discuss Islam; his goal is to be provocative." Nonetheless, he added that people in the Netherlands have the right to freedom of expression and that the government does not intend to cancel the contest. In response to the planned contest, a 26-year-old man, reportedly Pakistani, was arrested in The Hague for making death threats. Early on Thursday, a Dutch judge extended the detention of a man who had threatened to attack Geert Wilders for two weeks. The prosecution stated that the judge ordered the suspect to remain in custody while investigations into the charges of terrorist threats and the preparation of a terrorist murder continue. On Wednesday, about 10,000 supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan group, which helped Imran Khan win last month's general elections, marched and called on the new Prime Minister of Pakistan to sever diplomatic relations with the Netherlands. The Pakistani government has stated that it will raise objections regarding the contest at the United Nations. On Thursday, thousands of radical Islamists marched towards the capital of Pakistan in protest against the contest. Police temporarily halted the march 160 kilometers from Islamabad but later allowed it to continue. In Islamabad, all main streets were blocked with containers to prevent demonstrators from reaching the Dutch embassy and other embassies. The holding of these marches indicates the intense anger of many people in Pakistan over the planned cartoon contest. A spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday that the country would inform the Netherlands of its deep concerns regarding the contest. However, he added that Pakistan would avoid severe and unnecessary actions against the Netherlands.