Sat, 21 November 2009
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If the Dutch government wanted to prevent stigmatisation of the country's one million Muslims following the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh, why rush to publish the letter left on his body which links the murder to the defence of Islam?
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The letter in question |
One of the first things she did was to remind the 20,000 strong crowd that the suspect for the killing was a 26-year-old man who holds Dutch and Moroccan nationality.
The minister and the rest of the government have said the killing should not polarise the country and the Muslim community — which has condemned the killing — should not be stigmatised because of the deeds of an individual.
The government eventually decided to publish the letter, which was plunged by the murderer with a knife into Van Gogh's chest. The public prosecutor's office (OM) was opposed to its publication, but the government went ahead anyway.
In the rambling five-page document, the author — whoever that might be— offers an open letter to "Hirshi Ali", warning that she can expect death for criticising Islam.
Somali-born MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali wrote the scenario for the short film "Submission" which Van Gogh paid for and directed.
Submission criticises the way women are treated and mistreated in Islamic societies. The screening of the 10-minute film in August sparked death threats to both Hirsi Ali and Van Gogh. Many have assumed the film was the main reason for the 47-year-old's murder.
Amsterdam chief prosecutor Leo de Wit said the suspect — who was wounded in the leg during a shootout with police — has so far adhered to his right to silence.
So we are left with the letter.
The government has described it as "exceptionally disturbing" and said it "unmistakeably" echoes the philosophy of violent Jihad.
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