The Hague: Publicity-seeking Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders is to broadcast cartoons of the prophet Muhammad on television during time reserved for political parties, his party says.

The cartoons will be shown on Dutch public television on Saturday, Mr Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) said on Friday, adding that they would be repeated on June 24 and July 3.

Geert Wilders (centre) of the Netherlands' Party for Freedom announces a new grouping of far-right parties at the European Parliament in Brussels with France's Marine Le Pen (left) and Belgium's Tom van Grieken. Credit:AFP

Mr Wilders said he was making the broadcasts to defend freedom of speech after two militants were shot dead while attacking a Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas last month.

Many Muslims find drawings of the prophet to be disrespectful or outright blasphemous and Dutch authorities have said such a move could see Mr Wilders' right to airtime suspended for up to four years.