Condemning the murder of Theo van Gogh
Yesterday Theo van Gogh, a journalist and a
filmmaker, was brutally murdered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was murdered
because he cared and dared to expose the inherent misogynism in and the bru=
tal
nature of Islam. An act, which sadly, nowadays calls for great courage, due=
to
advancements of political Islam and the rise in religion influence in the
society. He was murdered by political Islam, a reactionary movement that re=
sorts
to intimidation and terror as its main tools for gaining power and achieving
its goals. This is not the first crime committed by this movement as a way =
to
silence the critics of Islam and Islamists, and if we do not stand against =
it,
it will not be the last. Political Islam is not only making life a hell f=
or
millions of living people in countries like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, it =
is
also taking lives in the heart of Europe. Political
Islam is a threat to humankind.
We need to take a firm stand against it. It is time to defend
unconditional freedom of speech and criticism. It is time to defend the
principle of universality of human rights and women’s rights. It is t=
ime
to end the so-called diplomatic relations with governments propagating poli=
tical
Islam. It is time to take side with the aspirations of people for secular a=
nd
progressive governments in the birthplace of Political Islam, countries like
Iran and Iraq. Hundreds of people are being killed, massacred everyday under
the rule of political Islam. Taking a progressive and human stand against t=
his
movement is the way forward. Being silent about it is paramount to supporti=
ng
it.
We condemn this horrendous crime and call upon all freedom loving and equality seeking human beings to
unequivocally condemn this atrocious murder and to take a firm and
uncompromising position against this movement.
Azar Majedi
Organisation for Women’s Liberation-I=
ran
November 3, 2004
azarmajedi@yahoo.com