THE HAGUE (AFP)---Dutch populist MP Geert Wilders on Wednesday called for a ban on the Koran in the Netherlands, describing it as a "fascist book" which exhorts people to kill non-believers and rape women.

The leader of the extreme-right Freedom Party, which holds nine of the 150 seats in parliament, called for the ban in a letter published in the De Volkskrant newspaper.

In his letter, Wilders compares the Muslim holy book to Adolf Hitler’s autobiography "Mein Kampf" and said the Koran has "no place in our constitutional state."

"I have been saying this for years: there is no such thing as a moderate Islam," Wilders wrote, adding that there were several chapters in the Koran "that call on Muslims to oppress, persecute or kill Christians, Jews, dissidents and non-believers, to beat and rape women and to establish an Islamic state by force."

In a reaction to Wilders a Dutch lawyer has filed a legal complaint against the MP for "insulting a section of the community". The offence is punishable with a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to 16,750 euros. "I think he has gone too far and it is unseemly that a member of parliament expresses himself like this," lawyer Els Lucas told the ANP news agency. The Dutch public prosecutor's office will now have to decide whether or not to go ahead with a court case against Wilders.

Wilders latter followed a weekend attack on a young local politician Eshan Jami who has founded a group to support people who have renounced Islam.

Jami, who was not visibly injured in the attack, is now under constant police protection like Wilders.

"Ban this wretched book like "Mein Kampf" is banned! Send a signal to Jami’s attackers and other Islamic radicals that the Koran cannot be used in the Netherlands as an inspiration or an excuse for violence," Wilders said.

Wilders however said he realised he would not get majority support in parliament for his plan.

"I am fed up with Islam in the Netherlands: no more Muslim immigrants allowed. I am fed up with the worship of Allah and Mohammed in the
Netherlands: no more mosques," he finished his letter.