Netherlands [dutch news.nl]- Public broadcasters VPRO and BNN have dismissed a ‘moral appeal’ by the Christian minister André Rouvoet [pictured] not to screen the porn film Deep Throat, www.xxxdeepthroat.com reports news agency ANP.

Rouvoet, who is a member of the orthodox ChristenUnie (CU) party, told RTL Nieuws on Tuesday that he would investigate whether it is possible to ban the 1972 film.

He said the film is ‘contaminated’ because the lead actress later claimed she was forced to accept her role.

‘Deep Throat is a historic symbol of shameless sexual exploitation and perverse profit-seeking,’ Arie Slob, leader of the CU party, told ANP.

The governing Christian Democrat party is also said to be unhappy about the film being shown on tv, reports ANP.

But according to media minister Ronald Plasterk (Labour), the broadcasters are free to show the film.

And opposition Liberal (VVD) MP Johan Remkes is unhappy with Rouvoet’s comments. ‘Ministers ought to be extremely reticent when it comes to these sorts of issues. And the tv does have an off switch,’ he is reported as saying.

BNN told ANP that the row over the film is ‘over the top and unnecessary’ and that the broadcasters were well aware of their social responsibility.

The film is due to be shown on February 23 followed by a special edition of the ‘sex and drugs’ programme Spuiten en Slikken and a documentary about the making of Deep Throat.