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Mohammed BOUYERI
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Islamic extremist
- Bouyeri's motivation to kill was likely
sparked by the movie Submission and further aggravated by his
hate of the western world and those who refused to accept Islamic values
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder:
November 2,
2004
Date of arrest:
Same day (wounded by police)
Date of birth:
March 8,
1978
Victim profile: Dutch film director Theo van
Gogh, 47
Method of murder:
Shooting
/ Stabbing
with knife
Location: Amsterdam,
Netherlands
Status:
Sentenced to life in prison without parole on July 26,
2005
Mohammed Bouyeri
(Arabic: محمد بويري)
(born March 8, 1978 in Amsterdam), is a Dutch - Moroccan
Islamist, currently serving a life sentence without
parole for the murder of Dutch film director Theo van
Gogh. He holds both Dutch and Moroccan citizenship.
Life
In 1995, Mohammed Bouyeri finished
his secondary education and subsequently went on to the
"Nyenrode College INHOLLAND" in Diemen. He changed his
major several times and left after five years without
obtaining a degree.
A second generation migrant from
Morocco, Bouyeri used the pen name "Abu Zubair" for
writing and translating. On the Internet he often posted
letters and sent e-mail under this name.
At an early age he was known to the
police as a member of a group of Moroccan "problem-youth".
For a while he worked as a volunteer at Eigenwijks,
a neighbourhood organization in the Slotervaart suburb
of Amsterdam. He started to radicalize shortly after his
mother died and his father re-married in the fall of
2003. The September 11 attacks and the war in Iraq
contributed to his radicalization.
He started to live according to
strict Islamic rules. As a result he could perform fewer
and fewer tasks at Eigenwijks. For example, he refused
to serve alcohol and did not want to be present at
activities attended by both women and men. Finally, he
put an end to his activities at Eigenwijks altogether.
He grew a beard and began to wear a
djellaba. He frequently visited the El Tawheed mosque
where he met other radical Muslims, among whom were
suspected terrorist Samir Azzouz. With them he is said
to have formed the Hofstad Network, a Dutch terrorist
cell.
He claims to have murdered van Gogh
to fulfill his duty as a Muslim. Serving as witness in
another court case involving the Hofstad group in May
2007, Bouyeri for the time expressed in more depth his
thoughts regarding Islam. Here he said that armed Jihad
was the only option of Muslims in the Netherlands and
that democracy was always a violation of Islam because
laws cannot be produced by humans but only by Allah.
Arrest
On November 2, 2004, shortly after
the murder of Theo van Gogh, Mohammed Bouyeri was
arrested close to the scene of the crime, following an
exchange of gunfire with police during which he was shot
in the leg. In his interrogations, he exercised his
right to remain silent.
On November 11, public prosecutor Leo
de Wit accused him of six criminal acts: murder,
attempted murder (of a police officer), attempted
manslaughter (of by-standers and police officers),
violation of the law on gun-control, suspicion of
participation in a criminal organisation with terrorist
aims, and conspiracy to murder with a terrorist purpose
Van Gogh, member of parliament Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and
others.
When arrested, Bouyeri had on him a
farewell poem with the title In bloed gedoopt
from which it appears he intended to die a martyr.
Pinned to the body of Van Gogh with a
smaller knife, Bouyeri was said to have left a second
letter, consisting of five pages in which Ayaan Hirsi
Ali, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD),
and politicians in general are warned. It contains
repeated references to alleged Jewish influences in
politics. The letter refers to the fundamentalist
ideology of the Takfir wal-Hijra. This letter probably
wasn't written by Mohammed Bouyeri himself, but by his
group's ideologist. It was signed Saifu Deen
alMuwahhied.
Trial
The trial against Bouyeri took place
over two days, July 11 and 12, 2005, in a high-security
building in Amsterdam-Osdorp. In a letter on July 8, he
announced that he would not attend the trial voluntarily.
The Prosecutor demanded of the court that he be forcibly
transported to the courthouse. This request was accepted
by the court. Bouyeri's lawyers did attend the trial;
they did not, however, ask questions or make closing
statements. Bouyeri appeared before the court carrying a
Qur'an under his arm.
At the trial Bouyeri expressed no
remorse for the murder he admitted to having done,
saying to the victim's mother: "I don’t feel your
pain. I don’t have any sympathy for you. I can’t feel
for you because I think you’re a non-believer." and
that he would have done it again. Bouyeri also argued
that "in the fight of the believers against the
infidels violence is approved by the prophet Muhammad".
In the Dutch law system, a Prosecutor
demands a punishment in a requisitoir. Presenting
the requisitoir to the court took 4 hours, at the
end of which the demand was presented. It read (unabridged):
The defendant rejects our
democracy. He even wants to bring down our democracy.
With violence. He is insistent. To this day. He
sticks to his views with perseverance. This calls
for a strong response. By literally placing him
outside our democracy. This means that he will not
be allowed to vote. This means deprivation of active
and passive suffrage. Taking everything into
consideration, the severity of the facts, the
underlying circumstances, and the personality of the
defendant, I find only one punishment suitable and
that is life imprisonment.
On July 26, 2005, Bouyeri received a
life sentence without parole.
Life imprisonment is the most severe
punishment in the Netherlands and is always without
parole. Bouyeri is only the 28th person to receive this
punishment since 1945, excluding war criminals. A life
sentence is ordinarily seen only with multiple-homicide
cases, but a new law introduced in 2004 also makes the
sentence applicable for leaders of terrorist
organisations. In addition, the Wet terroristische
misdrijven ("terrorist crimes law", in effect since
August 10, 2004), also states that, if there is a
terrorist motive for a crime, the term can be increased
by half. Imprisonments ordinarily in excess of 15 years
can be upgraded to life imprisonment, as was the case
with Bouyeri.
Wikipedia.org
The murder
of Theo Van Gogh
By Rachael Bell
Theo Van Gogh - Free-Speech Martyr
Theo Van Gogh, 47, the great grandson of art dealer
Theo Van Gogh and great grandnephew of the famed Dutch painter Vincent
Van Gogh, led an extraordinary life much like his predecessors. Theo was
an out-spoken and prominent Dutch film director, author, journalist,
actor, producer and an advocate of free speech who used the media as an
open forum to broadcast his controversial views on religion, politics
and social mores and values. The candid and often provocative method he
used to express his ideologies quickly propelled him into the national
spotlight in the Netherlands.
However, his critical views and brusque approach also
made him unpopular among a lot of people. According to a
November 2, 2004 article in Expatica.com, businessman and
broadcaster Harry Mens described Theo as "a bit of a 'kamikaze,' who
expressed his views regardless of whom he might offend." And offend he
did. He harshly criticized Christianity and Judaism. However, the Muslim
community bore the brunt of his irritation, which was evident when he
likened Dutch Muslim immigrants to "goat f--kers."
Anger against Van Gogh reached its pinnacle on
August 29, 2004 with the airing of the television
film Submission on Dutch television, which was the creation of
Van Gogh and controversial Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The
film depicted four partially nude women in long, dark transparent veils,
who had texts from the Koran written in calligraphy on their bare skin.
Some of the women appeared to have reddened whip marks on their backs
and legs, on which the texts were written that described the physical
punishments, sanctioned by the Koran for disobedient women. Not
surprisingly, the highly controversial 10-minute film sparked outrage
from the Muslim community.
Not long after the release of Submission, Theo
began to receive death threats. Concerned for his welfare, his
colleagues urged him to hire a bodyguard for protection a suggestion
which Theo initially entertained. Yet, eventually he brushed it off
because he didn't believe anyone would want to target him.
Pay Back for Submission
At approximately
8:45 a.m.
on November 2, 2004,
an unknown assailant dressed in a traditional Moroccan "djelleba,"
brutally attacked Theo outside of a city council building as he bicycled
to work in central Amsterdam. The attacker shot Theo Van Gogh and
stabbed him repeatedly in the chest, callously disregarding his victim's
pleas for mercy. Despite his life-threatening injuries, Theo was able to
gain enough momentum to stumble to the other side of the street but by
the time he made his way across, his attacker shot and stabbed him again.
He then slit Theo's throat with a butcher knife as onlookers gasped in
sheer horror.
In a final assault against his victim the attacker
lodged his knife, which had a letter attached to it, into Theo's chest.
The assassin then ran off through the neighborhood and into the nearby
Oosterpark, where he and police exchanged gunfire. During the shootout,
a motorcycle police officer and an eyewitness were seriously wounded.
Just as Theo's murderer exited the other side of the
park, the police caught up with him and shot him in the leg. He was
immediately arrested and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of his
wounds. The attacker was eventually identified as 26-year-old Mohammed
Bouyeri, an Islamic extremist with dual Dutch and Moroccan nationalities
who was believed to have links with other Islamic militant groups.
Investigators revealed that Bouyeri's motivation to kill was likely
sparked by the movie Submission and further aggravated by his
hate of the western world and those who refused to accept Islamic values.
*****
Mohommad Bouyeri
Mohammed Bouyeri was born in
West Amsterdam on March 8, 1978. He was the only son of four
siblings born to his Moroccan immigrant parents. As a youth, Bouyeri
studied hard and made good grades in school. According to a November 28,
2004 Washington Post article by Glen Frankel,
Bouyeri's primary interest was accounting, which he studied for five
years at Mondriaan Lyceum. Thereafter, he entered a higher-education
technical institute south of Amsterdam in
the town of Diemen, where he studied
business and IT. However, after several years he dropped out of school,
failing to complete his degree.
According to Frankel, Bouyeri "spent a lot of time
hanging out on the streets" of Amsterdam and at some point "was arrested
and imprisoned for seven months" for a violent crime. It is believed
that during his incarceration, Bouyeri immersed himself in the teachings
of Islam. After his release, Bouyeri began volunteer work at the
Stichting Eigenwijks neighborhood center in Amsterdam. Wikipedia.com
reported that he worked hard setting up group activities for area youths
and also assisting the "editorial team of the neighborhood newspaper
Over 't Veld." He was well liked by his colleagues and was considered by
many to be a pleasant and clever young man. However, problems began to
surface at work when Bouyeri underwent a radical transformation.
Toby Sterling
suggested in a November 2004 Associated Press article that Bouyeri's
abrupt change was likely prompted by his interest in politics and the
attacks against the United States on
September 11, 2001. It was reported in the article that Bouyeri "grew
radical after the death of his mother from cancer in fall 2002."
Sterling further stated
that he began "wearing traditional Muslim dress" and attending services
at the Al-Tawhid mosque, "where key Sept. 11 hijackers and plotters had
reportedly met, including Mohamed Atta."
Bouyeri steadily distanced himself from his work and
colleagues. Eventually, he completely stopped his volunteer work at the
Stichting Eigenwijks. It is unclear if he took on a new job but what is
known is that he devoted a large portion of his daily life to religious
activities after he left the organization.
Bouyeri formed new friendships at this time with
other men who shared similar extremist views. One person who Bouyeri
befriended was Samir Azzouz, 18, an Islamic fundamentalist who was
arrested in the Netherlands for plotting bomb attacks on
Amsterdam's SchipholAirport and the Dutch Parliament,
Expatica.com reported in a
November 3, 2004 article. Bouyeri was believed to also
have formed friendships with other dangerous Islamic extremists who were
under watch by the government. Surprisingly, despite his connections
with Islamic militants who were allegedly under heavy surveillance,
Sterling claimed that
Bouyeri managed to avoid being added to the "terror watch list."
During this time, Bouyeri also joined a militant
Islamic group known as the Hofstad Network. Syrian-born geologist turned
spiritual leader, Redouan al-Issar, 43, also known to use the alias "Abu
Kaled," headed the group. Even though Bouyeri's first known act of
terrorism in association with the Hofstad Network was the murder of Theo
Van Gogh, it is believed that he and the group were also in the process
of plotting even more assassinations. The group's suspected targets
included Ayaan Hirsi Ali and right-wing conservative MP Geert Wilders
who, according to an October 2004 Expatica.com article, is known to be "unashamedly
anti-Islam."
*****
The Bouyeri
Trial
Mohammed Bouyeri's trial for the murder of Theo Van
Gogh began Monday, July 11, 2005. For the most part, Bouyeri remained
silent and told his lawyer, Peter Plasman, that he wanted no part in the
case. He turned his back to the judges because he does not recognize the
court's authority.
Fox News reported that "Bouyeri, allegedly a member
of a terrorist cell known as the Hofstad Network, is said to have
attended private prayer sessions with a Syrian spiritual leader, Redouan
al-Issar, who disappeared shortly before the Van Gogh killing."
There was "some evidence Bouyeri had help, especially
financial help, in preparing the killing," but there are no other
suspects who can be directly tied to the crime. The gun used in the
murder was estimated to have cost EUR 1000, plus Bouyeri had no money of
his own for living expenses.
The Guardian Unlimited reported Monday that Bouyeri "quoted
Arabic prayers at judges as his trial began Monday and walked out of
court holding a Quran above his head."
Judges said Bouyeri laughed and told his younger
brother, Hassan: "I knew what I was doing, and I succeeded."
Rudolph Peters, Professor of Islamic Culture at
University of Amsterdam told reporters: "My conclusion is that Mr.
Bouyeri saw himself as an instrument of God.''
On Tuesday, July 12, the second day of the trial,
Bouyeri, 27, told the court, "I take complete responsibility for my
actions. I acted purely in the name of my religion."
Prosecutors have asked for him to go to prison for
life. Bouyeri's response was ""I can assure you that one day, should I
be set free, I would do exactly the same, exactly the same."
The Khaleej Times Online reported that in his final
statement to the court, Bouyeri said that he felt he owed Van Gogh's
mother Anneke some explanation:
"I have to admit I do not feel for you, I do not feel
your pain, I cannot. I don't know what it is like to lose a child," he
said. "I cannot feel for you ... because I believe you are a nonbeliever,"
he added.
"I acted out of conviction not because I hated your
son."
What is not clear at this time is whether Bouyeri
will serve his sentence in solitary confinement. Dutch prisons have been
described as "holiday camps." According to Expatica.com, prosecutors
have sought to prevent Bouyeri from allegedly continuing to try to
convert other inmates to his violent Islamist creed and from continuing
to smuggle out texts inciting other Muslims to violence:
"It does not matter that his fellow inmates may not
be susceptible to B.'s [Bouyeri's] brand of fanaticism. Nor does it
matter that his writings may have been rejected out of hand by those who
read them.
The overriding issue is who controls the prisons: the
authorities or the prisoners."
Mohammed Bouyeri Sentenced
On July 26, 2005, a three judge panel in an Amsterdam
court found Mohammed Bouyeri guilty and sentenced him to life in prison
for the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh. He was also found guilty of
the attempted murder of several police officers and two civilians
wounded in the shootout and the illegal possession of firearms.
Furthermore, Bouyeri was found guilty of encumbering
MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali's work in the Dutch parliament because of threats
made to her life, which led to her temporary absence from work and
seclusion from the public for security reasons.
During sentencing presiding judge Udo Willem Bentinck
said: "The terrorist attack on Theo van Gogh has unleashed feelings of
great fear and insecurity in society" and that "there is only one
fitting punishment in this case and that is a life sentence," Philippe
Naughton reported in the Times Online.
The sentence was the most severe possible under Dutch
law for premeditated murder. The remorseless Bouyeri showed no emotion
as the verdict was read, although there was relief expressed by some of
Van Gogh's family and relatives.
According to BBC News, Bouyeri must face new charges
of being a member of an Islamist terror network. Dutch prosecutors say
Bouyeri is "a key member of the Hofstad group which was planning attacks
against Dutch politicians." He would now be tried along with other
alleged Hofstad members.
Twelve other cases of suspected members of the
Hofstad Network are currently being reviewed and are expected to go to
trial in the near future. "Though they were not accused of having links
to Van Gogh's murder, prosecutors say they were plotting other terrorist
attacks," BBC reported.
In the meantime, a "large majority of Dutch
parliament" is trying to make sure that while in jail, Bouyeri is kept
in isolation in order to prevent him from becoming a 'prison prophet,'
by recruiting other prisoners as jihad fighters," Expatica.com said.
During his imprisonment while awaiting trial, evidence including radical
Islamic texts came to light, which Bouyeri allegedly used to try and
indoctrinate two other prisoners. Contact with prison inmates has since
been significantly reduced. Moreover, he has been prohibited from using
the Internet or his mobile (cell) phone while incarcerated.
However, it is unclear whether such restrictions will
be enforced throughout the duration of his sentence. The NIS (Netherlands
Information Services) reported that convicted criminals have the right
to "write, publish and distribute articles" but if the "texts infringe
criminal law, for example when they incite hatred or sedition, the
author can be prosecuted." Yet, there is a chance that Bouyeri's
indoctrination of the two prisoners might not be taken into account
since they occurred prior to sentencing. Thus, he could start his prison
sentence off with a 'clean slate" free again to spread messages inciting
hate until he is caught. Even if he is caught the NIS said that "no
further sentence can be imposed on him for any future criminal offence"
according to Dutch law. Consequently, steps are being taken to change
current laws in an effort to prevent Islamic extremists from recruiting
while in prison. This is especially important now that it has come to
light that one of the 7/21 bombers in London embraced a violent Islamic
creed while in jail serving a 5-year sentence for mugging.
