Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders. PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan has lodged strong protest with the Netherlands over recent blasphemous remarks made by one of its lawmakers on the microblogging site Twitter.
Foreign Office on Thursday summoned Dutch Ambassador Jeanette Seppen over blasphemous comments twitted by Leader of the Dutch Freedom Party and parliamentarian, Geert Wilders.
According to an official statement, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua conveyed deep concern and disappointment of the government and people of Pakistan on continued and deliberate malicious attempts of the Dutch parliamentarian to hurt the sentiments of hundreds of millions across the world.
She underscored that such acts cannot be allowed with impunity under the pretext of freedom of expression.
"These discriminatory incidents spread hate and intolerance and provoke extremism and violence, which were prohibited under human rights laws and standards," the communique reads.
Anti-Islam Dutch lawmaker says no more blasphemous caricatures, for now
Janjua called upon the Dutch government to condemn and take steps to stop such actions from taking place.
The Dutch envoy assured the foreign secretary that Islamabad's concerns would be conveyed to the authorities in the Netherlands.
The anti-Islam campaigner had said he had planned a blasphemous caricature competition which had sparked uproar in the Muslim world with nation-wide protests being carried out in Pakistan against the move.
Owing to the furor caused by the competition, Wilders was forced to backtrack on the competition after authorities arrested a man who had planned attack on the Dutch lawmaker.
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