Theo van Gogh (film director)

Theo van Gogh (July 23, 1957 – November 2, 2004) was a controversial Dutch film director, television producer, publicist and actor. A descendant of the brother of the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, he was murdered by Mohammed Bouyeri.

Van Gogh's murder and Index on Censorship

Although not exactly about Theo, this quote has been applied in use after his death: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." — Evelyn Beatrice Hall

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There was controversy in the English-speaking world after an article was published in the magazine Index on Censorship that to many readers seemed to condone or justify van Gogh's murder. The article, by the magazine's Associate Editor Rohan Jayasekera, claimed that van Gogh was a "free-speech fundamentalist" who had been on a "martyrdom operation roar his Muslim critics into silence with obscenities" in an "abuse of his right to free speech". Describing van Gogh's film Submission as "furiously provocative", Jayasekera concluded by describing his death as:

Related Topics:
Index on Censorship - Rohan Jayasekera

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:A sensational climax to a lifetime's public performance, stabbed and shot by a bearded fundamentalist, a message from the killer pinned by a dagger to his chest, Theo van Gogh became a martyr to free expression. His passing was marked by a magnificent barrage of noise as Amsterdam hit the streets to celebrate him in the way the man himself would have truly appreciated.

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:And what timing! Just as his long-awaited biographical film of Pim Fortuyn's life is ready to screen. Bravo, Theo! Bravo!http://www.indexonline.org/news/vangogh.shtml

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There were many protests from both left- and right-wing commentators at the article, and Nick Cohen of the London Observer wrote in December, 2004, that:

Related Topics:
Nick Cohen - Observer

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:When I asked Jayasekera if he had any regrets, he said he had none. He told me that, like many other readers, I shouldn't have made the mistake of believing that Index on Censorship was against censorship, even murderous censorship, on principle -- in the same way as Amnesty International is opposed to torture, including murderous torture, on principle. It may have been so its radical youth, but was now as concerned with fighting 'hate speech' as protecting free speech.http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,1371869,00.html

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Cohen's opinion was repudiated by the editor of Index on Censorship in a letter to the Observer. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,6903,1376833,00.html. Jayasekera himself has indeed expressed regrets and has put his own case for speaking his mind on Van Gogh's life legacy on the Index website.

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