This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/315

After Theo van Gogh's murder writing "Thou Shalt Not Kill" in public is outlawed as incitement - especially near a mosque

Rotterdam artist ordered to remove "Thou Shalt Not Kill" memorial painting to Theo van Gogh - cameraman jailed for protest
November 9, 2004

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Artist Chris Ripken's tribute to the memory of Theo van Gogh on a wall in Rotterdam

http://www.noord.kw.nl/index.php?page=video&film_ID=732

Click here for video by 'Cineac Noord' or go to link on http://www.theovangogh.nl/indexc.html

MIM: Theo van Gogh's murder was a declaration of war which appears to have gone unnoticed by the Dutch government with the exception of Deputy Minister Geert van de Zalm and VVD chairman Jozias Aartsen . In an outrageous move,Chris Ripken a Dutch painter who attempted to memorialize the slain filmmaker with the words "Thou Shalt Not Kill" was ordered by the police and Rotterdam mayor Oberstelt to remove the work because the words according to the Volkskrant were "too sensitive for our multi cultural society". Cineac Noord journalist Wim Nottroth was dragged away and jailed for 3 hours when he stood in front of the work to protest it's removal. A Dutch councilman aptly summed up the situation as : " A shining example of the insanity in which we now live".

Probably no one would have agreed more then Theo van Gogh himself.

Below is the text of the original call for all Dutch citizens to write the commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill" next to their doors in chalk which was written Karel Gabler, the webmaster of Theo van Gogh's website .The announcement can be found on the webpage of "De Gezonde Roker" "The Healthy Smoker."

The call was intended for individuals as a tribute to Theo Van Gogh's memory and the artwork which resulted in the arrest of the journalist prompted him to issue this 'disclaimer'. (original Dutch text is below and can be seen on Theo van Gogh's website). http://www.theovangogh.nl/indexc.html

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My apologies:

It appears that several groups have turned to different means of putting my call into action. I was completely unaware of any of these activities.I found a logo from one of these groups on a previous print and and erased it and restored it to the original.

I distance myself from any connection to these groups. My call was purely an individual initiative.

I wish to apologise to everyone who feels mislead by my announcement, which was so universal in it's appeal,and it should be regarded for what it is, and not seen as support or to be connected with any group whatsoever.

Karel Gabler

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MIM: Translation : Announcement!

Take some chalk and write next to your door : Thou Shalt Not Kill "

No chalk? Then print this version .

This morning , November 5th 2004 I found this report in the Volkskrant.

Incredible.

I have nothing to add to this...

Karel Gabler webmaster

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MIM: Translation of the above mentioned Volkskrant article by Beila Rabinowitz director of MIM:

(The original text can be seen with a picture below)

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"Thou Shalt Not Kill" is too sensitive for the year 2004"

by our reporter Ron Meerhof

"A Biblical commandment which noone could disagree with", thought the artist. But the local policeman thought otherwise.

God has failed his citizenship test in Rotterdam. His commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is too sensitive for our multi cultural society and therefore must be removed from the public square. By the next exam maybe he can try with the words: "We Shall Not Kill". That is is clearer.

Artist Chris Ripken asked himself seriously last night;"Did I do something wrong?" Maybe it would have been better if he had written "We" instead of "Thou" . He extends his hands and shakes them as if he is pleading in prayer". "But it shouldn't have to be that way. Right"?

Ripken's emotions on the death of Theo van Gogh found expression Tuesday afternoon in a work of art. He painted the biblical commandment above a rising angel which he had previously painted on the front of his house with the date underneath. "The very first time that I used that text to express myself". "As a rule, said Ripken, a completely non judgemental and neutral commandment which noone could disagree with". Wrong . The next morning the local policeman stood in front of his door :The text is potentially inciteful. The painting must be removed before 12 noon. Surely because Ripken's atelier is close to a mosque.

There followed a discussion which left Ripken feeling uncomfortably alone. The local policeman whom he knew well, suddenly seemed like a complete stranger, the way he spoke : Gruff, authoritive ,and deaf to all arguments. Then the chairman of the mosque comes and stands with them. "What luck, thinks Ripken, he will understand what I'm trying to do". But the chairman says diplomatically that he himself has no problem with Ripken's standpoint, but that others could take the meaning of the text in the wrong way.

Ripken invites the chairman to add something to the painting, for example an equivalent saying in Arabic."But no one reacted". "It was as if they didn't hear me," said Ripken. It was becoming increasingly grim".

The policeman told him that he was acting under direct orders from Mayor Opstelten. And that there were guidelines regarding certain texts which had been compiled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs after the murder of Theo van Gogh. And Ripken also got the urgent, no, coercive advice not to contact the media under any circumstances.

But two reporters from 'Cineac Noord, the smallest tv station in Holland', who were working in North Rotterdam, got wind of what was happening, jumped on their bicycles and arrived at the scene with cameras rolling. The filming has to stop, ordered the policeman.

A short time later a van arrived from the Roteb to remove the artwork. "I wouldn't stand for that" said reporter Wim Nottroth from Cineac Noord. He jumped in front of the painting and was forcibly removed. He sat for three hours in a jail cell. In the meantime the police forced the camerawoman to erase the footage of Nottrop's arrest.

The 52 year old Nottroth says that he found it very unpleasant to have sat three hours in a jail cell."Who could have thought that they would lock me up because of God's word? But I found that I had to do it".

Religous and believing politicians appear to have less emotions regarding this subject then the atheists Ripken and Nottroth.

CDA councilman Leonard Geluk, from integration affairs, let it be known via a spokesman that he had no need to give a response. The spokesman spoke of an "incident" which had been "resolved" through the municipality of (Rotterdam) North. "It is further a matter for the police". Said the spokesman ."Officially the matter lies with Opstelten".

The spokesperson appeared to be debating the question as to whether it should be taken into consideration if decisions by individual agents who are responsible for the controlled and orderly conduct of the societal interactions , should be conducted on this day in this way.

"Very simple", said the spokesperson."Not more and not less". He adds that Opstelten himself is of the opinion that in and of itself, there is nothing wrong with the text in question.

"No, that has to be added" said "Liveable Holland" councilman Marco- Pastors, the only one who felt that this subject was important enough to talk about."The saying is factually correct, generally known, and totally internalised in our country." "It is crazy to view this as incitement. It is a shining example of the insanity in which we now live."

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'Thou shall not kill'
message censored
Dutch officials order removal of artwork meant to honor slain filmmaker