Theo van Gogh, great-grandnephew of painter Vincent Van Gogh, was a Dutch artist known for his controversial works. He was brutally murdered on November 2, 2004 in Amsterdam while riding his bicycle, marking the 20th anniversary of this tragic event.
Van Gogh, a filmmaker and columnist renowned for his bold stands, was well known in the Netherlands. In 2004, he was killed by Mohammed Bouyeri, a 26-year-old Moroccan-Dutch man, apparently motivated by radical Islam. Theo was hit by eight of the twenty bullets fired by his attacker who used a Croatian weapon. Bouyeri was sentenced to life in prison in 2005 for this premeditated murder.
Théo van Gogh was born on July 23, 1957 in The Hague and was attracted to cinema from a young age, inspired in particular by “A Clockwork Orange” by Stanley Kubrick. A director of low-budget films, he often struggled to finance his projects. Among his achievements is “Submission”, a work which aroused strong reactions.
Known for his provocative character, Theo had sung controversial remarks towards Muslims and had criticized certain members of the Jewish community in the Netherlands, sparking numerous controversies against him. Despite being protected by his statements, Van Gogh boasted of confusing his bodyguards.
His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, reflecting the impact of his death in the Netherlands. His sister stressed the importance of freedom of expression despite this tragic incident. In France, the community of authors and directors condemned the murder and reaffirmed their attachment to individual freedom, an essential expression of creative freedom.
