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.

The letter begins by addressing Hirsi Ali in the name of "Allah the merciful" and wishes "peace and blessings on the Emir of the Mujahideen, the laughing killer Mohammed Rasoeloe Allah (Salla Allaho alaihie wa Sallam), his family…"

It rambles on, addressing the "non-believer fundamentalist" Hirsi Ali and explaining:

Since you took your place in the political arena in the Netherlands you have been busy constantly terrorising Muslims and Islam by your statements. You are not the first and you shall also not be the last who join the crusade against Islam.

The letter accused the Somali-born MP of not only turning her back on the truth, but also aligning herself with the forces of evil.

This letter is — insha Allah [Allah willing] — an attempt to impose silence on your evil once and for all.

The letter goes on to accuse Hirsi Ali of serving her "Jewish masters" and being part of a government that supports a State whose ideology advocates genocide.

The punch line appears to be: "Desire death if you are really convinced of your beliefs".

The letter ends with chilling convictions of its own, by paraphrasing Prophet Mohammed's warning to a foe:

I know for sure that you, O America, are going to meet with disaster.
I know for sure that you, O Europe, are going to meet with disaster.
I know for sure that you, O Netherlands, are going to meet with disaster.
I know for sure that you, O Hirshi Ali, are going to meet with disaster.
I know for sure that you, O non believer fundamentalist, are going to meet with disaster.

Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner and Johan Remkes of the Interior Ministry said the government had decided to publish the letter because of the "societal implications of the murder and the contents of the document".

But what are we supposed to make of this letter?

The rambling letter is abusing Islam to justify the unjustifiable, but does the author speak himself alone or for a larger group of people — an organisation perhaps?

Are we to assume the author is speaking on behalf of all Muslims who were stung by Hirsi Ali's criticism of their faith and by Van Gogh who likened Muslims to "goat fuckers".

Although the investigation into the brutal murder is far from over, the government is tending towards the notion that the author of the letter was speaking for a group.

"On the basis of the letter, the Cabinet is giving consideration to the idea the suspect is part of a movement which is targeting in a violent way not just people and groups, but also the principles and values of our society," the government said.

Experts have said the letter's style indicates that it originates from an extremist Islamic group with links to terror network al-Qaeda. And amid reports that suicide terrorists have a hit list of five leading Dutch politicians, is this letter a declaration of war?

Shot down ... Theo van Gogh.