Amsterdam - An Amsterdam court ruled Wednesday that Dutch legislator Geert Wilders should be prosecuted for his alleged discriminatory remarks about Muslims in recent years.

Several citizens had petitioned the court to force the Justice Ministry to prosecute Wilders, the founder and leader of the liberal- right Freedom Party (PVV), which is known for its highly critical approach to Islam and immigrants.

Wilders has on several occasions referred to Islam as a "backward culture" and the Koran as a "fascist book". He warned of the spread of radical Islam and the alleged "Islamization" of the Netherlands in Fitna, a 16-minute political film released on the internet on March 27.

Several citizens and an attorney subsequently filed a criminal complaint with police requesting that Wilders be prosecuted for discrimination.

But the Justice Ministry had rejected the possibility of prosecuting the legislator, saying he had not violated laws against discrimination, racism or incitement. (dpa)