THE HAGUE, 21/06/08 - The foreign ministry is concerned that Jordan will shortly issue a warrant for the arrest of Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders. This can have "implications for freedom of expression in the Netherlands," according to a spokesman.

A case has been brought against Wilders in Jordan by a group calling itself The Messenger of Allah Unites Us. It accuses the Dutch MP of racism and incitement to hatred against Islam and Muslims. The case was declared admissible by a court in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Monday.

Wilders expects the court to quickly produce a summons and an international warrant for his arrest. Should this happen, Jordan can make a request via Interpol for his tracking down and arrest. Wilders would then run the risk of being arrested abroad. Countries with no extradition treaty with Jordan could then also extradite him, for example with an eye to trade interests.

Wilders said Friday that he is experiencing the situation as a serious hampering of his freedom of movement. He has already had contact several times with Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen about the case. Verhagen is taking the case very seriously, according to Wilders.

A spokesman for Verhagen confirmed that the minister is "following the case very closely because it could have implications for freedom of expression in the Netherlands." He did point out that the Amman court has not yet reached a verdict "and that the Netherlands cannot interfere in the judicial process in Jordan."

Conservative (VVD) MP Hans van Baalen has raised written questions. He wants to know whether Verhagen is prepared to make it clear to the Jordanian government that an international warrant for Wilders' arrest will be considered an "unfriendly act."

Wilders launched his anti-Islam film Fitna at the end of March. Lawyers agree that the 15-minute film in no way breaks the law. Nonetheless, prior to the release of the film, Premier Jan Peter Balkenende repeatedly warned of the consequences. Insiders say that he had lawyers investigate whether the film could be banned preventively, but this did not prove realistic and ran up against opposition from Labour (PvdA).