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| Europe |
| Dutch MPs taken to safe houses |
| 2004-11-07 |
| EFL TWO leading Dutch politicians known for their critical views of Islam have been taken to safe houses by police after receiving death threats after the murder of the film-maker Theo van Gogh. Mr Van Gogh, the great great grandnephew of Vincent van Gogh, was shot and stabbed in a "ritual killing" in broad daylight in an Amsterdam street on Tuesday. His throat was slit with a butcher's knife, and a five-page letter was pinned to his chest with another knife. The police announced that they would prosecute Mr Van Gogh's suspected killer, a 26-year-old Dutch-born man of Moroccan origin, named Mohammed B., under antiterrorism laws, recognising the killing as the first recent terrorist attack on Dutch soil. Police have arrested eight other Islamic radicals over the killing, and have connected it with the terrorist bombing in Casablanca. Whotta surprise! It was the second murder of a public figure critical of Islam in the Netherlands, two-years after the anti-immigration populist Pym Fortuyn was shot by a left-wing activist. Dutch leaders who have received death threats since the murder include Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali refugee and former Muslim who made a film with Mr Van Gogh criticising the Koran for sanctioning domestic violence; Geert Wilders, a right-wing populist opposed to Turkey joining the EU; Rita Verdonk, the Immigration Minister; and Job Cohen, Amsterdam's mayor. Ms Hirsi Ali and Mr Wilders have both been taken to safe houses. Dutch newspapers reported that police are worried that the threats — by telephone calls and e-mails — were evidence of a co-ordinated attempt by Islamic radicals to target politicians seen as "enemies of Islam". Now that just might have given the pols enough of a scare to do something, when you have to be hidden in safe houses.. |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #9 AP correspondent on Fox reports high tensions in several Dutch towns. I've worried for some time that ultra-tolerance might breed an extreme reaction when people were sufficiently frightened or angry. |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-11-07 10:08:10 PM |
| #8 http://www.zachtei.nl This Dutch blog keeps u up to date with the latest translated in English.... |
| Posted by: Dutchgeek 2004-11-07 5:18:06 PM |
| #7 Mohammed Bouyeri is his name. Why were the authorites trying to keep that unknown? Setting fires. Sounds like the Dutch are finally pissed. Please keep us posted Dutchgeek. Thank you. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-11-07 1:34:57 PM |
| #6 Hey Dutchgeek. Once took a Bicycle tour to Weirsolo. I had a blast, loved the place and found Dutch people to be some of the most helpful folks I ever met. We were aided many times. I hope all goes well so that wonderul spirit remains. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-11-07 1:21:53 PM |
| #5 Perhaps they can find a way to deport him to a Moroccan prison. I'm sure that would be a good compromise for all concerned. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-11-07 1:02:43 PM |
| #4 Here his name http://www.volkomenkut.com/media/CV.txt ,Mohammed Bouyeri.......Lots of attemps to set mosques on fire all over The Netherlands....I'll keep u updated |
| Posted by: Dutchgeek 2004-11-07 1:02:39 PM |
| #3 There is no death penalty in Holland. Adn I think no perpetuity. Maaning that sooner or later in a few years the guy will be free to kill again. BTw the Duttch, those eople who find death penalty too cruel, have no qualms on having three thousands of their elderly "euthanasiated" every year without their consent. Sounds like murder to me but of apparently the Dutch think they have found a clever way to solve the problem of Social Security deficit |
| Posted by: JFM 2004-11-07 1:00:04 PM |
| #2 Frank, Yup. Especially when it's not just Ms Hirsi Ali, by the plain vanilla Mayor of Amsterdam. Imagine the uproar in California if Gavin Newsome had to go into hiding because of murderous heteros. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-11-07 12:24:16 PM |
| #1 Why do they keep calling him Mohammed B. Why can't they tell us his real name? |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-11-07 12:23:41 PM |