Van Gogh was killed in November after receiving death threats

The Raidue channel will screen four to five minutes of the 11-minute film in its Thursday night news magazine.

The film is critical of the treatment of women under Islam. Its screening on Dutch TV last year is thought to have led to Van Gogh's murder in November.

Clips have since been shown by two Danish stations, sparking Muslim anger.

Earlier this year, Submission was withdrawn from the Rotterdam Film Festival because of security fears.

Last week, politicians from all leading Italian parties signed a letter urging Rai to show the film in full, saying it would help to combat intolerance and support artistic freedom.

However, Rai said it was unable to show the entire film because the rights were unavailable.

The BBC's Mark Duff in Milan says critics of the broadcast see the hand of the anti-immigrant Northern League behind the move.

The Islamic Council in the northern city of Turin has urged Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi to halt the transmission, warning that it could heighten tension and endanger public security.

Van Gogh was shot and stabbed several months after receiving death threats following Submission's first broadcast on Dutch state television channel Ned-3 in August last year.

Denmark's two state-run channels, DR and TV2, have also aired clips, prompting official complaints from local Muslim communities.