SLOVENIA ? EU foreign ministers sharply rejected the views in a new anti-Quran film, saying Saturday it equates Islam with violence, but defended the right of a maverick Dutch lawmaker to make it.

The 15-minute film by Geert Wilders, head of the Party for Freedom, was released Friday on the Internet.

“Fitna” – Arabic for ordeal – portrays Islam as targeting Western democracy with violence and has prompted denunciations from Muslim capitals and street protests in Pakistan.

The 27 EU foreign ministers said all governments should do their utmost to restrain violence and aggression. “Feeling offended is no excuse for aggression or threats,” the ministers said in a statement after a two-day meeting in Slovenia.