Danish film producer and critic of Islam Theo van Gogh was shot and stabbed by a member of a local jihadist organization. The assailant attached a letter containing threats to Ayaan Hirsi Ali stabbed into the victim's body.
producing and directing numerous films, most notoriously Submission, a few of which were critically acclaimed and won awards; authoring multiple books, including one entitled Allah Knows Best; being an outspoken critic of Islam; working as a columnist and actor as various points in his life; being a member of the prodigious van Gogh family
Vincent van Gogh (great-granduncle), Theo van Gogh (great-grandfather), Henk Vonhoff (uncle), Johan Witteveen (first cousin once removed), Willem Witteveen (second cousin), Lieuwe van Gogh (son, artist), Johan van Gogh (father), Anneke van Gogh (mother)
In 2004, Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh collaborated with ex-Muslim activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali on a short film entitled Submission. Written by Hirsi Ali, the film depicts brutal abuse of Muslim women whose bodies are covered in text from the Qur'an dealing with the treatment of women. The film was written as an explicit condemnation of Islamic doctrine, made clear in its title, a direct translation of the word "Islam" into English.
"It is written in the Koran a woman may be slapped if she is disobedient. This is one of the evils I wish to point out in the film." - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
After the release of the film, Theo and Ayaan both began to receive death threats. Then, on a morning just days later, Theo was murdered as he biked to work. The murderer, who shot and stabbed Theo before attacking bystanders, was ultimately apprehended by police, who found he was affiliated with an Islamist terrorist organization in the Netherlands. He had also left a note on Theo's body threatening the life of Ayaan; after this incident, she was forced into hiding.
"I should cut everyone's head off who insults Allah or his prophet." - murderer of Theo, statement in court
The event triggered mass demonstrations in the Netherlands and hardened tensions between Dutch Muslims and non-Muslims. Several attacks on Dutch mosques, as well as a Dutch Muslim school, occurred in the wake of the murder.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has since moved to the United States, where she continues her work against Islamic fundamentalism as an activist and author.
Life in jail for brutal killer of Dutch film-maker Van Gogh - The Independent
Hirsi Ali on Film over Position of Women in Koran - Dutch News Digest
