Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen on Friday called on Wilders not to release the film, which Wilders had said he planned to release shortly. Verhagen was the first member of the fourth Jan Peter Balkenende cabinet to make a direct appeal regarding Wilders' controversial film. The Labor Party had criticized the minister's statement, saying it was premature since there is still no clear information about the content of the film.

Verhagen's Christian Democrat Party has also spoken out against the film, saying that Wilders should take into consideration the possible consequences of releasing the film -- compromising the safety of Dutch citizens and harming the Dutch economy. The Taliban had previously threatened to step up attacks on Dutch troops in Afghanistan if the purportedly anti-Islam film is released.

Wilders, who is the head of the right-wing Freedom Party, responded in a statement by saying the critics of the film can "get lost."

On Thursday night, Christian Democrat parliamentary leader Pieter van Geel urged Wilders not to proceed with the release of the film. "This has nothing to do with freedom of expression but with the responsibility he must take for the possible consequences to the safety of Dutch citizens and our economy," van Geel said.

On Wednesday Verhagen and Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin spent an hour with Wilders trying to persuade him to drop the project.

Labor Party spokesman Jeroen Dijsselbloem said he sympathized with the Christian Democrat position. "The threats are real and we should pay attention to them," he said. "But at the moment, the government should be making appeals to the countries where there is unease."

Onno van Vlerk, head of the Amsterdam branch of the Labor Party, expressed his belief that Wilders' "policy of hostility" harms the international image of Holland. Vlerk stated that Holland, with its multi-cultural social structure, is an example for the rest of Europe. "The discourse of Wilders and some others like him do not represent all of the Netherlands. Muslims have contributed greatly, both spiritually and materially, to Dutch society. We cannot deny this. Thousands of Muslim businessmen contribute greatly to the Dutch economy. A majority of them have become an inseparable part of Holland," he said.

In a statement he made on the issue, head of the Dutch Turkish Workers' Union (HTİB) Mustafa Ayrancı stated that the purpose of the film is to provoke anger among the Muslim population and create an environment of chaos in the country.

"Their xenophobia tends to have a boomerang effect. Those who would like to exploit this hostility for their unholy ends should know that one day it will come back to them and hurt them," he noted. He said xenophobia had never been good for anyone. "They will come and go. We, on the other hand, are an inseparable part of the society. This is our country and our children's new motherland. We want to do anything that would further Holland's development," stated Ayrancı.

German court dismisses case against mosque construction

Meanwhile, a Düsseldorf administrative court has dismissed a lawsuit against the Religious Affairs Directorate's Turkish-Islamic Union for Religion (DİTİB) over a mosque the group wanted to build in the city of Moers.

The Germans opposing the construction of the mosque had based their case on the fact that those coming to the mosque would make "loud" noises; however, the court ruled that this possible noise would not reach an intolerable level.

Since the Moers municipality had previously given permission for the mosque's construction, the people in the neighborhood had decided to carry the case to the court as a last resort. However, the precautions taken to suppress the noise were found to be sufficient by the court.

The municipality gave the permission with the conditions that the ezan (call to prayer) only be made inside the mosque, which will have 70-meter high minarets, and that at most 70 people can be in the mosque at late hours.

The judge who ruled in the case said, "DİTİB is expected to act in accordance with these conditions." The judge also noted at the hearing that in the event the DİTİB violates the conditions, their right to use the mosque will be revoked.

Sculpture of Marx to decorate university again

Meanwhile a 33-ton bronze sculpture of Karl Marx that had been removed some 18 years ago will be put back in its former location at Germany's Leipzig University.

Social Democrat Science Minister Eva Maria Stange said the sculpture, which was kept among the remains of the Church of Paulinerkirche that was demolished in 1968, will be placed in front of the Leipzig University's Sports Academy. Stange also noted that an inscription will be added by the sculpture, telling the story of how Marxism brought about the demolition of the church.

Some of those opposing [the placement of the sculpture] such as writer Erich Loest argue that the sculpture should stay with the remains of the church to which Marxism brought ruin.

Leipzig University's Rector Franz Haeuser has expressed his pleasure over an end to discussions over the sculpture. The cost of erecting the sculpture in its former location is 300,000 euros.



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