Amsterdam - Controversial far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders claimed in an interview Thursday that a court had based its decision to prosecute him for discrimination and incitement to hatred on false quotes.

Wilders, famous for his anti-Islam film Itna and refused entry to Britain last month, confirmed he had filed an appeal with the High Court of Justice against a district court's decision to prosecute him.

In an interview with Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf, the leader of the Freedom Party (PVV) said the district court had based its decision on remarks attributed to him, but in reality originating from other people. In other instances he was simply misquoted, he said.

"People who complained about me, misquoted me," Wilders said. "Other remarks were in fact made by other people. But the court has adopted these quotes as mine."

The Dutch legislator specified a quote about the Koran from the late Italian journalist and author Oriana Fallaci. Wilders said the Amsterdam district court referred to the remark as his.

Last week a nationwide poll in the Netherlands said Wilders' PVV would become the biggest party if general elections were held now.

The party, which currently holds nine out of the 150 parliamentary seats, gained dramatically in the polls after the British authorities refused entry to the Dutch lawmaker on February 18.

Britain refused Wilders entry claiming the Dutch politician would disturb public security in Britain.

The Islam critic, known for last year's 16-minute Fitna film which warns against the alleged Islamization of Europe, slammed the British decision as "cowardly" and a "blow to free speech." (dpa)