A Sydney-born cleric who reportedly called on Muslims to "chop off" the head of anti-Muslim Dutch MP Geert Wilders has labelled the report as "sensationalist," "out of context" and based on "limited knowledge".
In a press release posted on an online Islamic forum, Sydney-born Sheik Mohammad Feiz said the comments were made while he was overseas in 2008 in response to the release of Wilders' controversial documentary on Islam, called Fitna.
He said the comments were not made as a result of the recent SBS Dateline program where Mr Wilders described Islam as a "retarded culture".
Sheik Feiz said he did not refer to Geert Wilders by name and no threat was made towards him.
"These comments were made online to a specific audience whereby I was addressing a religious question regarding treason in Islam and the repercussions under Islamic Shariah law.
"It must be noted that in the context of this topic, any capital punishment in Islam can only exist when there is a caliphate or a nation run by Islamic Leaders."
Sheik Feiz says Mr Wilders wants to destabilise Australia by "preaching a doctrine of hate and fear and craves attention by demonising Islam".
"Comments claiming that I, in some way am threatening him, is [sic] nothing but a cheap publicity stunt to promote his cause and vilify me," the statement said.
Sheik Feiz called on the Australian government to condemn the Dutch MP, who is planning to visit Australia.
Mr Wilders told a popular Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, which published a recording of the speech on its website, that he is "shocked by the death threat".
The newspaper claims to have a sound recording of the appeal by the Sheik, who the paper claims has is 'influential' for Western Muslims, and has links with terrorists.
Dutch authorities would not confirm the threat or elaborate on possible steps that would be taken if the threat was confirmed.
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