Social Affairs Minister Eberhard van der Laan has spoken out in response to comments made by Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders on Danish television.

In a televised interview on Saturday, Mr Wilders said millions of Muslims in Europe who break the law or want to introduce sharia law should be deported.

Mr van der Laan calls the comments ridiculous. He says there are 20 million Muslims living in Europe and most of them are “doing fine”. The minister said Mr Wilders either cannot count or wants to incite fear against Islam. He accused the Dutch lawmaker of saying things outside parliament without other MPs being able to argue against him. Mr van der Laan has challenged Mr Wilders to a debate in the Lower House.

Photo: ANP