Author: AP
Publication: Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper
Date: February 2, 2006
URL: http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=3640
The convicted killer of Dutch filmmaker Theo
van Gogh addressed an Amsterdam court again Thursday, presenting his own defense
to separate terrorism charges as one of 13 men who allegedly planned attacks
on Dutch politicians.
Mohammed Bouyeri, 27, is already serving a
life sentence for Van Gogh's Nov. 2, 2004, murder, which Bouyeri said he carried
out alone because he believed Van Gogh insulted Islam in his film criticizing
the treatment of Muslim women.
In the new trial, in which he is charged as
a member of a criminal group that planned terrorist attacks, Bouyeri insisted
on presenting his own defense and was granted three hours to speak.
He faces no additional punishment since his
previous sentence has no parole. But prosecutors felt his inclusion in the
group would increase the chances other alleged members would be convicted.
Bouyeri, who was born in Amsterdam of Moroccan
parents, began his allotted time with a prayer in Arabic. Wearing a red-checkered
head scarf, he said he felt "honored" by prosecutors' accusation
that his philosophy was similar to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's, then
embarked on a rambling discussion of Islamic history and law.
He said that good non-Muslims should be treated
fairly because "Allah loves the just" but that leaders of non-Muslims
who are dishonest should be killed.
"Kill them, and Allah will help you and
guide your hand," Bouyeri said. "There's no room there for doubt
or interpretation there." He said that killing one innocent Muslim is
morally equivalent to killing all Muslims and then remarked in English, "that's
for your administration, Uncle Bush," in an apparent reference to the
U.S. President.
He quoted the Quran frequently, at times in
Arabic, but also cited wide ranging-sources such as science philosopher Thomas
Kuhn and terrorism expert Jessica Stern. In their two-day closing statement
last week, prosecutors said Bouyeri and other members of group, known as the
Hofstad Network, followed a cult-like vision of Islam that was bound to end
in violent attacks.
Evidence entered against the 13 men included
wiretaps, Internet chat room messages, weapons and blueprints seized in raids,
al-Qaeda propaganda, and farewell testaments written by some members apparently
in preparation for suicide attacks.
Most attended meetings at Bouyeri's Amsterdam
apartment. Other defense lawyers who have yet to present their full arguments
have so far said the suspects were just friends who shared common religious
beliefs and should not be convicted because of their association with other
group members.
Prosecutors have sought 20-year sentences
for two suspects, Jason Walters and Ismail Aknikh, who resisted arrest in
a a daylong standoff with police in The Hague in a sweep after Van Gogh's
murder.
Walters allegedly threw a hand grenade that
wounded three officers before he was taken into custody on Nov. 10, 2004.
All the suspects were charged under a new
law that makes "participation in a terrorist group" a crime. The
law aims to empower police to stop terrorists before they act. Prosecutors
asked for a 10-year sentence for Nouredine el Fahtni, accused of being a ringleader.
Investigators say he planned to attack Dutch politicians, along with Walters
and Aknikh. El Fahtni was caught with a loaded machine gun after a chase in
June 2005, prosecutors said.
Sentences of between 1 1/2 and four years
were sought for other suspects accused of being followers and supporters.