Murder in Amsterdam: the Death of Theo Van Gogh and the Limits Of

BOOK REVIEWS Murder in Amsterdam: who also was on his bicycle. Fortuyn’s story is a precursor to The Death of Theo van Buruma, author of Occidentalism: van Gogh’s murder and depictive A Short History of Anti-Westernism, of the paradigm shift whereby Gogh and the Limits of is in an ideal position to tell this immigration became a prominent Tolerance story, having spent the fi rst 24 political issue in Dutch politics. by Ian Buruma years of his life in Holland before Buruma effectively ties this in Atlantic Books, emigrating, and he contributes with reference to emblematic New York, 2006 both an insider’s understanding national themes like European $24.95, 288pp and an outsider’s objectivity. He Enlightenment, Anne Frank, war ISBN 9781594201080 brings these together, to ‘make guilt, anti-Semitism, hooliganism sense of van Gogh’s death and to and religion to explain the current see what larger meaning should state of Dutch society. and shouldn’t be drawn from this Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s character is ong a political taboo, the story’. The result is a study not central to Buruma’s story. Formerly Lfailure of European society only of Mohammed Bouyeri and a strict devotee of Islam, Ali fl ed to absorb its sizeable and growing his descent from idealist to lout to en route to an arranged marriage Muslim population was radicalised Muslim, but to seek refugee status in Europe. inevitably going to create also the environment She began to gradually reject tension after September and characters her religious background and 11. Ian Buruma’s Murder that provoked his eventually become an outspoken in Amsterdam is the story radicalisation, and critic of Islam, culminating in her of how the world caught their response to the co-producing the controversial up with Amsterdam murder. documentary Submission with van on a cold November Among those Gogh. In the documentary words morning in 2004 when Buruma chooses to from the Quran are projected Mohammed Bouyeri, focus on are two of van onto a naked woman’s body a disaffected second- Gogh’s erstwhile allies while Muslim women tell stories generation immigrant, from Dutch politics, of abuse, thus drawing a link accosted the controversial film the by now well-known Somalian between the word Islam (meaning producer Theo van Gogh, fi rst émigré and Islam-critic Ayaan submission) and violence against shooting him, then slitting his Hirsi Ali, and Pim Fortuyn, a women. political maverick most noted for Threats written in Bouyeri’s throat before pinning a manifesto his anti-immigration posturing manifesto indicate that the main to his victim’s chest. and outspoken homosexuality target of his vengeance was Hirsi While the much-discussed until being shot in 2002 by an Ali, whom he castigated for her ‘clash of civilisations’ behind animal rights activist (a liking betrayal of the ‘true’ faith to this murder is inherently for fur coats was one of Fortuyn’s become a willing tool of ‘Zionists international, the strength of this many provocations). and Crusaders’. Buruma recounts book lies in Buruma’s placing Buruma shows the suddenness Hirsi Ali’s past, and, through a the event in its Dutch context, with which Fortuyn’s radical views combination of interviews and a nation formerly known for on immigration gained popularity. reportage, her reaction to the its freedom of expression and It ruptured the political status murder; despite being forced to tolerance (hence Buruma’s quo in Holland where the native live under permanent guard Hirsi subtitle: …and the Limits of Dutch population’s dissatisfaction Ali continued to campaign against Tolerance). Descended from the with Muslim immigrants’ failure Islam until leaving for America (she famous painter, Theo van Gogh to assimilate, symbolised by the currently works at the American is somehow characteristically satellite ‘dish-cities’ in which Enterprise Institute). Dutch in his foul-mouthed, Muslims clustered, had hitherto Fascinating as her life story is, unrestrained mannerisms. So been ignored by an ossified Murder in Amsterdam is at its best too the fact that Mohammed political elite. In a country when describing peoples’ reaction Bouyeri cycled that fateful where liberty is inseparable from to Hirsi Ali. As an eloquent and morning to intercept van Gogh, license and provocation, Pim beautiful convert-come-champion POLICY • Vol. 23 No. 1 • Autumn 2007 53 AAutumn_Policy_07-1.inddutumn_Policy_07-1.indd 5353 99/03/2007/03/2007 11:08:2311:08:23 AMAM BOOK REVIEWS of European Enlightenment values, addresses an emotive and complex What Price Security? her message against Islam was issue without oversimplifying. Taking Stock of Australia’s Of the plethora of books on the always bound to fi nd resonance, Anti-Terror Laws and the responses she provoked tension between Western and By Andrew Lynch and say much about the state of Dutch Muslim values, this one deserves George Williams society and politics—ranging to be read. from distaste among well-meaning UNSW Press liberals for her stirring up of Reviewed by Sydney, 2006 trouble to conservative Dutch Joel André Malan 95pp, $16.95 politicians co-opting her as one ISBN 0 86840 909 X of their own. This very specifi c background is drawn together in Buruma’s attempt to make sense of the ince September 11, the seemingly senseless: how a SAustralian Parliament has bright young second-generation enacted over forty pieces of immigrant who once had a Dutch legislation addressing the threat girlfriend and enjoyed smoking posed by terrorism. In What marijuana was transformed Price Security?, George Williams to a religious fanatic bent on and Andrew Lynch attempt to martyrdom. Buruma stops short provide a short guide to the of drawing conclusions while most important aspects of this offering some clues, such as anger legislation. Between the trial of at witnessing parents’ humiliation, ‘Jihad’ Jack Thomas and the much realisation of limited horizons commented on new sedition laws, and welfare induced antipathy to there has been quite an intense Holland. public debate recently regarding Despite the tendency to see Australia’s anti-terrorism laws. As Islam and Western values as worlds Williams and Lynch note, it is apart, Buruma hints at common diffi cult for the interested citizen elements between the zealousness to follow this debate without an of Bouyeri, Hirsi Ali, and Pim understanding of the content and Fortuyn’s murderer. Instead of effect of these laws. seeing Islam as an obstacle to The book is divided into six assimilation, Murder in Amsterdam chapters. The fi rst fi ve of these suggests that problems are more consider in turn each of the broad bound up in cultural issues. The categories of laws included within role of Islam, which offers identity the new anti-terrorism legislation: and status for those who lack the criminal offences created by belonging and recognition, is this legislation, the new powers ambiguous, having the potential granted to the Australian Security to legitimise opposition to one’s Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), surroundings (as with Bouyeri), the control and preventative yet also to serve as a constructive detention order regime, the laws force towards establishing a sense of civic responsibility. burdening freedom of speech, If any criticism can be made of and the different procedures to Buruma’s approach, it is that he be observed in the prosecution of sits on the fence and sometimes anti-terrorism offences. The last tries too hard to fi nd meaning in chapter is titled, like the book, some of his characters’ garble, yet ‘What Price Security?’, and offers Murder in Amsterdam successfully a brief assessment of the merits 54 Vol. 23 No. 1 • Autumn 2007 • POLICY AAutumn_Policy_07-1.inddutumn_Policy_07-1.indd 5454 99/03/2007/03/2007 11:08:2411:08:24 AMAM.

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