(AFP) Controversial anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders late Thursday said he was cancelling plans to stage a Prophet Mohammad cartoon competition, a scheme that had angered many Muslims particularly in Pakistan.
The Dutch politician’s announcement came after he said he had received several death threats. A man was arrested by police two days earlier on suspicion of wanting to assassinate Wilders.
On Thursday evening the far-right politician back-peddled on his plans, amid widespread criticism at home with politicians, media and ordinary citizens slamming the idea as needlessly antagonising Muslims.
“I have decided to cancel the competition to avoid the risk of making people victims of Islamist violence,” Wilders said in a statement.
