Posted on 11/02/2004 3:58:34 AM PST by Max Combined
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A Dutch filmmaker who had criticized the treatment of women under Islam in a movie and in newspaper columns was shot dead Tuesday outside a city government office in Amsterdam, police said
Police spokeswoman Elly Florax confirmed media reports the victim was filmmaker Theo van Gogh and that a suspect had been arrested after a shootout in a local park. The suspect, who was not identified, and a police officer were injured, she said.
No motive was given for the attack.
Van Gogh had made headlines recently with a film critical of some elements of Islamic culture. He also wrote columns about the Islam which were published on his Web site, www.theovangogh.nl, and Dutch newspaper Metro. He had reportedly received death threats following the airing of the film.
The short television film "Submission" aired on Dutch television in August and enraged the Muslim community in the Netherlands which said it was provocative and lacked insight.
It told the fictional story of a Muslim woman forced into a violent marriage, raped by a relative and brutally punished for adultery.
The English-language film was scripted by a right-wing politician who years ago renounced the Islamic faith of her birth and now refers to herself as an "ex-Muslim."
Somali-born Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a member of the Dutch parliament, has repeatedly outraged fellow Muslims by criticizing Islamic customs and the failure of Muslim families to adopt Dutch ways.
The place of Muslim immigrants in Dutch society has long been a contentious issue in the Netherlands, where many right-wing politicians have pushed for tougher immigration laws and say Muslims already settled in the country must make a greater effort to assimilate.
Theo van Gogh, 47, has often come under criticism for his controversial movies. In December, his next movie "06-05," about the May 6, 2002 assassination of Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn, is scheduled to debut on the Internet.
No, What said was 25% want to help kill us!
The 74.5% don't care if we're killed, so long as they are not harmed (and they get a share of the loot).
Praise the Lord and Pass the ammunition
Down went the gunner, a bullet was his fate
Down went the gunner, then the gunners mate
Up jumped the sky pilot, gave the boys a look
And manned the gun himself as he laid aside The Book, shouting
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition and we'll all stay free!
Praise the Lord and swing into position!
Can't afford to sit around and wishin'
Praise the Lord we're all between perdition
and the deep blue sea!
Yes the sky pilot said it
You've got to give him credit
for a son - of - gun - of - a - gunner was he,
Shouting;
Praise the Lord we're on a mighty mission!
All aboard, we're not a - goin' fishin;
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition and we'll all stay free!
"Nope. You're reacting exactly how OBL WANTS you to react."
I want to nuke Mecca and Medina, which would mean the end of Islam. Do you really think OBL wants Mecca and Medina nuked?
A great idea! Allahu Fubar!
"The vast majority of the human race, of which every Muslim is a member, thought this was a Bad Thing."
True, the vast majority of the human race thought it was a bad thing, but the majority of Muslims thought that we got what we had coming.
I would like to find out.
Apparently the chickens are coming home to roost in Yerp.
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