Geert Wilders. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay Geert Wilders, the head of the anti-Islam, anti-immigration Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands, has tweeted an extraordinary fake picture of a rival surrounded by radical Islamists.

Wilders shared the doctored picture of pro-European, pro-democracy, social-liberal D66 leader Alexander Pechtold at a protest holding up a sign that reads: "Islam will dominate the world, freedom can go to hell."

In the image, Pechtold is surrounded by other signs reading "Islam will conquer Europe" and "Shariah for the Netherlands."

The tweet, in which Wilders asks "Pechtold demonstrates with Hamas terrorists. What is the next step?," has sparked a row over fake news in the Netherlands with the country's election just over a month away.

Pechtold responded in a post on his Facebook page. He said: "Usually I laugh at photoshopped pictures on the internet. But not this time. Not because I can't stand up for myself... but because it gives people false impressions."

"In these times of fake news and alternative facts, we can't just ignore the consequences that such a fake image can have. I draw the line today. And I hope many will join me."

He also wrote about how a few months ago he sued a PVV supporter who sent him death threats, adding that he told the judge it was not a normal way to treat each other in the Netherlands.

Many Dutch politicians supported Pechtold. Jesse Klaver, leader of GroenLinks (Green Left), called Wilders' tweet "low and irresponsible," according to AFP. Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher, leader of the Labour party, re-tweeted Wilders' tweet with "delete your account."

Wilders hit back against Pechtold on Twitter, saying: "Stop complaining, drama queen. You have demonstrated standing among Palestinian flags, with friends of Hamas. #hypocrite."

On Tuesday morning, Wilders posted another doctored picture of Pechtold on Twitter in which his head is pasted on the body of a woman drinking a glass of wine:

The debate sparked by his tweets in one that has been at the centre of discussions in the US and Europe over fake news on social media.

Many government officials have expressed concerns over fake news being spread ahead of the many elections in Europe this year, and high-ranking government officials in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Czech Republic have issued stark warnings.

In November, Bruno Kahl, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, said the German elections could be targeted by Russian hackers focused on spreading misinformation: "We have evidence that cyber-attacks are taking place that have no purpose other than to elicit political uncertainty. The perpetrators are interested in delegitimising the democratic process as such, regardless of who that ends up helping."