Theo van Gogh

Theo van Gogh, born 23 July 1957 in The Hague, was a Dutch filmmaker and writer, also great-grandson of the renowned painter Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh gained fame for his thought-provoking and controversial works, which were often devoted to sensitive themes such as religion and politics.

His academic trajectory included studies at the University of Amsterdam, followed by a career as a journalist and television presenter. In the late 1980s, he began to make his way in the film industry, writing several essays and articles on a variety of topics. In his early films, humour and satire dominated, but as he delved deeper into political issues, his works became more critical and challenging.

One of his most prominent creations is the film "06/05," released in 2004, which highlighted the assassination of Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn. This collaboration with journalist Ayaan Hirsi Ali caused a stir and drew criticism for the way Muslims were portrayed.

In November 2004, Van Gogh suffered a tragic fate at the hands of Mohammed B., a radical Islamist, who murdered him in the heart of Amsterdam during a bright day on the street. The perpetrator left behind a threatening letter addressed to Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She, a politician of Somali-Dutch origin with an Islamic background, had collaborated with Van Gogh to produce the film "Submission". In this film, Koranic texts were projected onto naked women's bodies, as an expression of protest against the "woman-unfriendly" nature of Islam. Bouyeri, the person responsible for the murder, let it be known that Hirsi Ali would be his next target.

Bouyeri also directed his threats at what he saw as the "Jewish clique" that he believed dominated the country, including Job Cohen, the mayor of Amsterdam.

This tragic event sparked a national debate on the limits of freedom of expression in Dutch society and brought more attention to the Muslim community. At Van Gogh's funeral, thousands of people paid their respects and honoured him as an advocate for free expression.