Jan. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Geert Wilders, the Dutch lawmaker who made a film linking the Koran to violence, will be prosecuted for his comments in the film and newspaper editorials.

The Court of Appeal said it “considers criminal prosecution obvious for the insult of Islamic worshippers” after Wilders compared parts of their faith with Nazism. The ruling, posted on the court’s Web site today, overturns a decision by the prosecutor last year not to charge Wilders.

“I see this as a black day,” Wilders said in statement on the Web site of his Dutch Freedom Party. “If you voice your opinion you run the risk of being prosecuted.”

Wilders released his film “Fitna” on the Internet in March 2008. The 15-minute movie features verses from the Koran alongside images of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In the movie, he calls on Muslims to rip out “hate- preaching” verses from the book. The politician called the Koran “fascist” in an editorial in De Volkskrant and said it should be banned.

More than 40 people reported Wilders’ editorial comments to the police and others complained about the film, the prosecutor said last year. The movie led to protests in majority-Muslim countries including Indonesia and Pakistan and calls for the boycott of Dutch products in Malaysia.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jurjen van de Pol in Amsterdam jvandepol@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 21, 2009 08:16 EST