Posted on 11/09/2004 3:57:09 PM PST by Trupolitik
Film-maker's funeral sparks violence From Anthony Browne in Amsterdam
RELIGIOUS violence flared yesterday as thousands turned out to line the streets at the funeral of Theo van Gogh, the murdered film-maker and vocal critic of Islam.
Two Dutch churches were attacked by arsonists, in seeming retaliation for earlier attacks on mosques, while an opinion poll showing that 40 per cent of Dutch people no longer considered Muslims welcome underlined a rapid deterioration of tolerance in the previously liberal Netherlands.
Mr van Gogh, whose last film, Submission, criticised the treatment of women under Islam, was cremated in an upbeat ceremony broadcast on large screens for the crowds outside an Amsterdam cemetery and live on national television.
A sarcastic letter was read out to Mr van Gogh’s killer, promising “we will do our very best to learn more about your beliefs to prevent further misunderstanding” and apologising that the killing “had to happen in the middle of Ramadan”. [/b]
Mr van Gogh, a distant relative of the painter Vincent van Gogh, was shot six times and nearly decapitated with a butcher’s knife in daylight as he cycled down a street in Amsterdam last week. A five-page letter declaring holy war and threatening death to the critics of Islam was pinned to his chest with a knife.
At the funeral, crowds waved banners demanding: “Let’s protect our freedom of speech” and “No to fundamentalism”.
A woman wore a T-shirt with pictures of van Gogh and his friend, Pim Fortuyn, the assassinated politician who called for a halt to Islamic immigration, with the words “The lords of the free word” and asking: “Who is next?” She said: “In the Second World War under Nazi occupation you were killed for speaking out, and now it is happening again.”
Carel Mayer, an insurance manager, carried a sign which said: “Silence is deadly. If you speak you will be killed. To be able to speak out is the most important thing.”
He said: “Van Gogh has died so other people have to speak up. People have to be able to say what they mean if we are to live together.”
Hans Bethlehem, an associate of Mr van Gogh, said: “All the problems were covered up for such a long time, they are now all bursting out.”
Six alleged Islamic radicals are in custody in connection with the murder, including the alleged killer, Mohammed Bouyeri, 26, who holds Dutch and Moroccan passports.
All face charges of conspiracy to murder.
Since the murder, other politicians seen as “enemies of Islam” have been issued with death threats and two have been taken into police custody.
Over the weekend, several mosques were subjected to arson attacks and vandalism. One Islamic school had its front door blown off by a bomb.
Yesterday, two Protestant churches in Utrecht and Amersfoort had petrol bombs thrown at them, while a Middle Eastern radical Islamic group threatened reprisals if the mosque attacks continue.
The opinion poll also said that 90 per cent felt the Dutch were becoming less tolerant, and 47 per cent admitted they were less tolerant of Muslims.
Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch Prime Minister, said: “The atmosphere that has arisen must disappear. It does not suit the Netherlands.”
Let's Roll.
This is just spread over the entire population.
Do you know of any EU blogs were a few Freepers might be able to add to the mix?
Please use the published title when posting an article
It had to happen sometime and someplace in Europe where the demonic hords have reached a critical population mass.
History repeats itself.
The satanic cancer cult of death will never stop until it is excised.
Hey Europe! Roll over and play dead. You haven't been willing to admit its a war yet, so die quietly and don't bother us about it.
Hey Netherlands: First, come along, see the light, join the party. Secondly, dump those tangerine orange soccer uniforms.
Learn here:
"If the Dutch don't have liberal forearms laws"
I've always been a leg man myself.
I don't have the cable and the networks had NO COVERAGE of this event at all.
WHY ?
Of course I know all from the Freerepublic :o)
The only "rolling" going on are those efforts by the courageous Coalition military forces in Iraq. Everything else is lip service.
Thank God George Bush had the sense to realize that no-one would tolerate internment camps for resident hostile fanatics in the USA...most of whom came here to avoid their own Islamic hells..then became citizens, simultaneously giving birth to US citizens and hatred for us.
It's too late to close the gate.
Eliminating terrorists from the USA and around the world is going to take a lot of hard work......for they come at us, not as an army but as godly men. You be the judge.
I demand they be released in the name of the United Nations! What right does Denmark have to wage this illegal war?
It tends to happen like that.
He says "I'm from the Netherlands and cannot believe the brainless reactions on this forum."
Some people have no respect period. Gees, one person's death really stirs up passion in the Netherlands.
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