Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders is to hold a Prophet Muhammad cartoon competition at his party’s parliamentary offices.

The Party for Freedom (PVV), which has previously called for the Quran to be banned, said the contest had been approved by the country’s counter-terrorism agency.

Drawings will be judged by American cartoonist Bosch Fawstin, winner of a similar competition in Texas three years ago that was targeted by two Muslim gunmen.

Many Muslims consider images of Prophet Muhammad to be blasphemous, and cartoons depicting him have previously provoked violent responses.

“Freedom of speech is threatened, especially for Islam critics,” Mr Wilders said. “We should never accept that. Freedom of speech is our most important freedom.”

The far-right MP claims Islam is a totalitarian political ideology rather than a religion. He has previously called for mosques and Islamic schools to be shut down and for a blanket ban on Muslim immigrants.

In 2016 he was convicted of inciting hatred and discrimination after asking supporters whether they wanted “fewer or more Moroccans” in their country.

When the crowd shouted back “fewer”, a smiling Mr Wilders answered: “Then we’ll fix it.”

On Saturday the MP spoke in London to crowds of Tommy Robinson supporters, who were protesting the English Defence League founder’s jail sentence for contempt of court.

The PVV, which is the leading opposition party in the Netherlands after coming second in elections last March, said the cartoon competition would be held in the autumn after getting the go-ahead from the NCTV counter-terrorism agency.

The party is offering a €5,000 (£4,400) prize for the winner.

“Muslims can be offended to death. That’s not the problem,” tweeted Mr Fawstin, who is publishing a book of cartoons of the prophet. “Muslims MURDERING over cartoons is the problem. And that has to be defied by drawing Mohammad.”

The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Protesters scuffle with police at the junction of Whitehall and The Mall during a 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures A protester wearing a mask of US president Donald Trump was among thousands of supporters of far-right activist and former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson staging a protest outside Downing Street in central London. Rex Features The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures A man empties his beer over passing police AFP/Getty The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Supporters of English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson demonstrate in Whitehall, London, Britain, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson Reuters The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Dutch far-right opposition leader Geert Wilders addresses thousands of supporters Rex Features The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Mandatory Credit: Photo by Clearpix/REX (9708609j) A demonstration has been held in Central London in support of Tommy Robinson. A large crowd of his supporters marched from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street. A counter demonstration was held some distance away and a large police force was present. Free Tommy Robinson protest, London, UK - 09 Jun 2018 Rex The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Protesters scuffle with police on Whitehall during a 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest on 9 June AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Police watch supporters of Tommy Robinson PA The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures People take part in a support rally for Tommy Robinson Rex Features The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Supporters of far-right spokesman Tommy Robinson demonstrate in Trafalgar square AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Protesters scuffle with police at the junction of Whitehall and The Mall during a 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest on 9 June AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures A man climbs on one of the lions in Trafalgar Square Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Protesters scuffle with police at the junction of Whitehall and The Mall AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Police clear supporters PA The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Beer is thrown as demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Protesters scuffle with police AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Demonstrators clash with police Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Supporters of English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson clash with the police in Whitehall, London on 9 June Reuters The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures An injured police officer during a 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest in London on 9 June AFP/Getty The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Protesters take over a sight-seeing bus on at the junction of Whitehall and The Mall during a 'Free Tommy Robinson' protest on 9 June AFP/Getty Images The Tommy Robinson protest: in pictures Police watch supporters of Tommy Robinson during their protest in Trafalgar Square PA

Two gunmen from Arizona were shot dead by police as they tried to storm the 2015 competition won by the cartoonist in Garland, Texas.

That contest was held four months after Islamist gunmen murdered 12 people at the Paris offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which had printed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

In 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten provoked protests across the world and riots in some Muslim countries by publishing several cartoons of Muhammad, including one depicting the prophet with a bomb in his turban.