The Van Gogh murder has gripped Holland and the world at large as it is one more piece of evidence that the jihad has now arrived in Europe’s cities where it is probably going to stay for quite a while. If anyone has any doubts over that let me translate some excerpts of the letter that the jihadist pinned on Van Gogh’s body after he had killed him. It’s addressed to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Dutch parliamentarian who abandoned Islam largely as a result of the abuse that she as a woman encountered. She sits in parliament for the VVD, which is the Dutch right but as I explained before these are very liberal folks, freedom of the market, body and soul so to speak. I won’t translate the whole thing, not just because it’s long but it is very religious and refers to the Koran a number of times and there are parts that are not entirely clear to me. Here are the most relevant excerpts:

“Since your entry into Dutch politics you have been constantly engaged to terrorize Muslims and Islam with your statements. You’re not the first, nor the last to have joined the crusade against Islam”

“Since you are blinded by the burning unbelief that rages in you, you are not able to see that you are just a tool in the hands of the real enemies of Islam”

“I would like to start with your proposal to have Muslims tested on their ideology when they apply for a job. Your proposal is very interesting especially since it reveals the rotten face of your political masters”

“It’s a fact that Dutch politics is dominated by many Jews, themselves a product of Talmud institutions, the same applies to your party members”

“What do you think of the fact that the current mayor of Amsterdam adheres to an ideology that allows Jews to lie to non-Jews?”

(editor note: Amsterdam’s current mayor, Job Cohen is Jewish)

“Your actions betray your cowardly courage that you use in getting attention for your struggle. You have the cowardly courage to ask Muslim children at a school to make a choice between their Creator and the constitution.”

“You have used the answer of the pure young souls to make up arguments to justify your crusade. With all these hostilities you have unleashed a boomerang and it will only be a matter of time before that boomerang will seal your faith.”

“I challenge you with this letter to proof that you’re right. There’s not a lot that you have to do Mrs. Hirsi Ali, wish for death if you really think you’re right”.

And paraphrasing a prophet who made a similar statement about the Pharaoh:

I know for sure that you, Oh America will go under;

I know for sure that you, Oh Europe will go under;

I know for sure that you, Oh Holland, will go under;

I know for sure that you, Oh Hirsi Ali, will go under;

I know for sure that you, Oh unbelieving fundamentalist, will go under.

To be frank: there’s nothing new here but it supports the notion that we’re all in this together, America, Europe, Jews, infidels, you name it, it’s all there.

If this doesn’t get the Dutch moving I don’t know what will. Yesterday almost all parties in parliament reacted furiously and concluded that indeed the jihad had come to their country and are demanding drastic measures. I am not entirely sure what they will be but if the current mood in Holland is any indicator they may ditch some of that famed tolerance and come up with a Dutch version of the Patriot Act. As I said yesterday, I am not sure where things will end up in the long run, but I fear that for now life along the canals will not get very pleasant.

UPDATE: As I mentioned the impact of this murder is pretty devastating and many have commented, be sure to check out the comments at Winds of Change, Who Knew? and the Economist:

The government labelled the murder an “act against freedom of expression”, and organised an Amsterdam rally against it. The protesters worried that the killing might be a sign that they are no longer free to express controversial views, or pursue the most outlandish lifestyles, without fearing for their personal safety.

It's that aspect that is that the core of this drama and it is the thing that Fortuyn always warned about: freedom in the Netherlands is not a given, as in most Western countries it came after a long quest. No one that enjoys the benefits of that liberty can allow that it be challenged, and they can certainly not live in fear to exercise it. Yet, that's where the Dutch are at the moment.