Van Gogh's Killer Says He'd Do It Again

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

In November, the Netherlands was rocked by the murder of film-maker Theo van Gogh.  Van Gogh had directed the controversial film Submission, written by Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali, which was designed to dramatize mistreatment of women born to Muslim families.  On November 2, 2004, van Gogh was riding his bicycle to work when he was shot six times by Mohammed Bouyeri, a joint Moroccan and Dutch national.  Prosecutors told the court that after shooting van Gogh multiple times, Bouyeri "then slit his throat with a kitchen knife, severing Mr van Gogh's neck down to the backbone before impaling to his chest with the knife a five-page note threatening other public figures."

Although he initially refused to participate in the legal proceedings because he said he wouldn't recognize the authority of a non-Islamic court, Bouyeri admitted to the killing last week, when he made a shocking statement to the court:

"I take complete responsibility for my actions. I acted purely in the name of my religion," he told its three-strong panel of judges.  "I can assure you that one day, should I be set free, I would do the same, exactly the same."  . . .  Spectators in the maximum security courthouse in western Amsterdam gasped as Bouyeri then turned to the victim's mother, Anneke, in the public gallery, and told her he felt nothing for her.  Mrs van Gogh watched as he read out from what appeared to be a statement:  "I don't feel your pain.  I have to admit that I don't have any sympathy for you.  I can't feel for you because you're a non-believer."

Comments:  Contempt for non-Islamic courts and a lack of remorse are two hallmarks of the Muslim terrorist.  For example, in my book review of Joel Seidemann's In the Interest of Justice, I note Zacarias Moussaoui's defiant behavior when he requested to fire his lawyers and proceed pro se with his defense.  This included Moussaoui quoting at length from the Koran, by memory:  "O you who believe, take not as your Bitanah, adviser, consultant, friend, those outside of your religion, pagan, Jew, Christian, and hypocrites, since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you.  They desire to harm you severely.  Hatred has already appeared from their mouth.  But what their breast conceals is far worse."

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