Prophet Cartoons 'To Be Televised' On Saturday

Controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders will show cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed during a political party broadcast at the weekend, his party says.

The far-right leader of the Freedom Party will include the drawings in his slot on Saturday in order, he said, to support the right of free speech.

The cartoons were entered into an anti-Islamic competition in Texas that was attacked last month.

Two militants were shot dead during the attack on the event , at which Mr Wilders gave a speech.

There are fears over the inflammatory nature of the stunt, as many Muslims find drawings of the prophet to be disrespectful or outright blasphemous.

Dutch embassies are understood to have been told what measures to take if the broadcast goes ahead, as it could spark violent protests around the world.

Dutch authorities said Wilders' right to airtime could be suspended for up to four years if he decides to show the cartoons.

Under the Dutch constitution, no prior supervision is allowed of any content of a radio or television broadcast.

The Dutch Media Authority provides airtime to parties to make political statements, but says it only looks at what is broadcast after they are shown.

Mr Wilders tried to put on an exhibition of the Mohammed caricatures at the Netherlands parliament but was turned down.

He said previously: "If we say, 'it might be offensive, so let's not do it,' then we send a signal to the people who wanted to get into the event in Texas ... and all their followers that it works ... that we can be intimidated, that we get frightened."

Ever since forming his own party in 2006, Mr Wilders has been a divisive figure in the Netherlands.

Until recently, the country prided itself on its long tradition of multi-cultural tolerance.

The anti-European and anti-immigration Freedom Party currently holds 12 of the 150 seats in parliament's lower house.

US man Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem was on Wednesday accused of helping the militants who attacked the Texas cartoon event.

In November, Dutch authorities decided to prosecute Mr Wilders on charges of inciting racial hatred.

He had hoped to team up with fellow Euro-sceptic Nigel Farage in a EU parliamentary bloc, but the UKIP leader refused.