Dutch convert to Islam who made bombs and threatened politicians had 'obsessive identification' with Islam - detained in pyschiatric hospital

Young bomb maker placed in youth pyschiatric facility

Nov. 7, 2005 De Volkskrant

by Beila Rabinowitz director of MIM:

The court in Amsterdam has decided that a 17 year old M.R. from Almere should be placed in a juvenile pyschiatric hospital for behavioural therapy. In July of this year he was found to have hidden a self made explosive device in his parents home. The Public prosecutor claimed that he was planning a terrorist attack, but the court found that there was no proof .

The Ministry of Public Affairs was convinced of this because he had sent threatening emails to Lower House members Hirsi Ali and Geert Wilders. The court considered the threat of a 'terrorist criminal act' directed at Hirsi Ali not proven, but that the threat towards Willders was.

The presiding judge decided that the so called terrorist intent in relation to the improvised bomb was not proven. The reasons for this remain obscure, because the prosecution of the case was handled behind closed doors because R. was a minor.

After R. was arrested last year the police discovered a metal pipe filled with gunpowder and metal.

Experts concluded that the youth, who is Dutch by birth could be considered as having an " obsessive identification" with Islam. In addition he is "fascinated by violence" and by "fire and fireworks". He converted to Islam in 2003 the radicalisation was completed this year.

The presiding judge decided that the so called terrorist intent in relation to the improvised bomb was not proven. The reasons therefore remain obscure, because the prosecution of the case was handled behind closed doors because R. was a minor.

He became withdrawn and only had contact with his co religionists ,according to the psychiatrist who examined him. R is not completely sane, according to the behavioural experts. They find that treatment in a psychiatric facility is necessary, to minimalise the danger of repetition, The court agreed with their conclusions. The officer of justice had also demanded five months of juvenile detention in addition to the five months of youth detention in a facility. The court found the detention unnecessary, because R has already been detained and still has to wait for a place in an institution.

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De Volkskrant

maandag 7 november 2005 uur.

Jonge bommaker in jeugdinrichting geplaatst

ANP

http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/1131370358091.html

Het OM had die overtuiging, doordat R. in maart van dit jaar dreigmails verstuurde naar de Tweede Kamerleden Hirsi Ali en Wilders. De ‘bedreiging met een terroristisch misdrijf' aan het adres van Hirsi Ali achtte de rechtbank niet bewezen, die aan Wilders wel. Overigens achtte de officier van justitie ter zitting het zogeheten terroristisch oogmerk met betrekking tot de geïmproviseerde bom uiteindelijk ook niet bewezen. De redenen daarvoor zijn duister gebleven, omdat de behandeling van de zaak tegen R. wegens zijn minderjarigheid op 24 oktober achter gesloten heeft plaatsgevonden.

Nadat R. in juli van dit jaar in Amsterdam werd aangehouden, stuitte de politie bij doorzoeking van de ouderlijke woning op een kartonnen staaf, gevuld met kruit en metaal. Ook werd materiaal voor een ontstekingsmechanisme gevonden.

De bedreiging van VVD-politica Hirsi Ali achtte de rechtbank niet bewezen, omdat niet is gebleken dat zij op de hoogte is geweest van de bedreigingen. Voor Wilders ligt dat anders. Hij kreeg in maart een e-mail van R., waarin onder meer stond dat hem, als ‘vijand van de islam', een kennismaking met ‘het zwaard' te wachten stond. Ook schrijft R. in deze mail dat Hirsi Ali zichzelf zal ‘stukslaan' op de islam. R. stuurde tweemaal een dreigmail aan Wilders. De rechtbank wees er in haar vonnis op dat dergelijke bedreigingen de democratie ‘in haar wezen' kan aantasten.

Gedragskundigen hebben vastgesteld dat er bij R., Nederlander van geboorte, sprake is van een ‘obsessieve vereenzelviging' met de islam. Daarbij is hij ‘gefascineerd door geweld' en door ‘vuur en vuurwerk'. Hij bekeerde zich in 2003 tot de islam. De radicalisering voltrok zich dit jaar. Hij zonderde zich steeds meer af en had alleen nog contact met geloofsgenoten, aldus de psychiater die hem onderzocht. R. is verminderd toerekeningsvatbaar, zo hebben de gedragskundigen vastgesteld. Behandeling in een inrichting is noodzakelijk, om het gevaar voor herhaling te beperken, vinden zij. De rechtbank nam de conclusies over.

De officier van justitie had naast de maatregel tot plaatsing in een inrichting vijf maanden jeugddetentie geëist. De rechtbank vond detentie niet nodig, omdat R. al vier maanden vastzit en waarschijnlijk nog enige tijd moet wachten op een plek in een inrichting.

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Translation by Beila Rabinowitz director of MIM:

Kickbokser became follower of Mohammed Bouyeri.

The Amsterdam adolescent Maik swiftly became a Muslim extremist . The court has to decide if he is suffering from a personality disorder.

First Maik was a fanatic kickboxer. He could also become completely consumed by his fireworks. After the September 11th attacks he became totally fascinated by "pure Islam". The native born Dutch convert radicalised, was active on the internet and put his MSN profile on with pictures of Mohammed Bouyeri and Samir Azzouz.

Last March he threatened Hirsi Ali twice via e mail. He was taken into custody on July 11th in Amsterdam West. A search of his parents house turned up a homemade explosive device.

It was remarkable news. The arrest of a 17 year old adolescent. Many asked themselves how it was possible that a native born youth could have so changed so quickly into an extremist.

Did he radicalise so quickly because he was developmentally disturbed?

Or did he appear disturbed because he was obsessively preoccupied with his belief?

Today the court, which is handling the case behind closed doors because the defendant is a minor -must formulate an answer to this. The prosecuter demanded five months and detention in a youth pyschiatric faclity.

The Volkskrant was able to reconstruct his story using police files and his conversations. A youth pyschiatrist who examined Maik concluded that he was completely sane. He suffers from autistic spectrum syndrome and tend towards monomania. The court has taken the advice to about a youth pychiatric faciltiy. But can radicalism be treated?

Experts say that he will not be dissuaded from his belief.

Maik was 13 when he first came into contact with Islam. He had mostly Moroccan friends in vocational school who reacted enthusiastically to 11 September. Because of their unexpected reaction he became interested in Islam. Through the internet he came into contact with the ideology.

After the murder of Theo van Gogh he sought contact with the Hofstadgroep network. He was active on the internet and spread the work of his leader and mentor Mohammed Bouyeri. He used Islamist nicknames such as Talib ei Ilm (student of knowledge). Abdrahiem and Abu Tafkir and managed radical MSN internet groups. He wanted to marry in the Islamic way as quickly as possible.

His actions on the internet brought him to the attention of the General Information and Security Services. They saw him as a tafkir who viewed those who didnt believe as he did as heretics who should be killed. Maik often talked about violence on the internet. One of the Muslimahs who according to him had lapsed from the path of tafkir was threatened by him. "No sword is sharp enough for you".

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