Speaking of Islam

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Man gives confession in filmmaker's death
His religion motivated him to kill, he says

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands
The Muslim extremist on trial in the killing of filmmaker Theo Van Gogh confessed yesterday, saying that he was driven by religious conviction. "I don't feel your pain," he told the victim's mother.

Mohammed Bouyeri stunned the courtroom when he said: "If I were released and would have the chance to do it again ... I would do exactly the same thing.

"What moved me to do what I did was purely my faith.... I was motivated by the law that commands me to cut off the head of anyone who insults Allah and his prophet," he said.

Bouyeri, 27, faces life imprisonment in the killing Nov. 2 of van Gogh, who was shot, stabbed and nearly beheaded in Amsterdam. A verdict will be handed down this month.

At one point, he spoke to the victim's mother, Anneke. "I have to admit I don't have any sympathy for you," he said. "I can't feel for you because I think you're a nonbeliever."

The killing is believed to have been an act of retribution for Van Gogh's film Submission, which criticized the treatment of women under Islam.

Lead prosecutor Frits Van Straelen told the court that Bouyeri would kill again unless he is locked up for life.
"The accused preaches a message of hate and violence," Van Straelen said. "He preaches that anyone who thinks differently can be killed ... He is and remains a danger to our society."

The killing of Van Gogh, a distant relative of the painter Vincent Van Gogh, led to a wave of retaliatory attacks on mosques in a country once renowned for its tolerance. It also led to a national debate about the integration of Muslims, who make up 6 percent of the Netherlands' 16 million people.

Bouyeri was born in Amsterdam to Moroccan parents and became increasingly radical in his beliefs in the two years leading up to the murder, according to prosecutors. He is said to have attended private prayer sessions with a spiritual leader, Redouan al-Issar of Syria, who disappeared shortly before the Van Gogh killing.

He is also accused of threatening politicians, impeding democracy, illegal weapons possession and manslaughter for attacks on police and bystand-ers.

Bouyeri was arrested after a shootout. He was holding the gun that prosecutors say was used in the killing. Prosecutors say he is also tied to the crime by witnesses, blood spatter, ballistic evidence, a photo and DNA analysis.

If you read this story closely, you may have some difficulties trying to understand why the AP described this piece of filth as a "Muslim Extremist." He did exactly what his religion required him to do, as is plainly stated in the Koran.

We are supposed to be all multiculti and acceptant and tolerant of these religious differences. What's the problem? Murder and mutilation is part of the Muslim religion. Aren't we supposed to accept that as well? After all, it's not like they were (shudder) Christian or anything, is it?