Pim Fortuyn

Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn (, 19 February 1948 – 6 May 2002) was a Dutch sociologist and politician. Born in Driehuis, he was the leader of the LPF (Lijst Pim Fortuyn), a right-wing political party.Margry, Peter Jan: The Murder of Pim Fortuyn and Collective Emotions. Hype, Hysteria, and Holiness in the Netherlands? published in the Dutch magazine Etnofoor: Antropologisch tijdschrift nr. 16 pages 106–131, 2003,English version available online He was very popular and was expected to win the 2002 elections. Fortuyn did not agree with some things the religion of Islam does, and did not want to let criminal Muslims from other countries come to the Netherlands. He was Roman Catholic and openly gay.Fortuyn to lie in cathedral

Nine days before the elections, he was murdered during the 2002 Dutch national election campaign by Volkert van der Graaf, who is an extreme environmentalist and animal rights activist. In court at his trial, van der Graaf said he murdered Fortuyn to stop him from exploiting Muslims as "scapegoats" and targeting "the weak members of society" in seeking political power.Fortuyn killed 'to protect Muslims', The Daily Telegraph, 28 March 2003:
[van der Graaf] said his goal was to stop Mr. Fortuyn exploiting Muslims as "scapegoats" and targeting "the weak parts of society to score points" to try to gain political power.Fortuyn killer 'acted for Muslims', CNN, 27 March 2003:
Van der Graaf, 33, said during his first court appearance in Amsterdam on Thursday that Fortuyn was using "the weakest parts of society to score points" and gain political power., Dr Janet Parker 20 June 2005, New Criminologist.

Early life and education
Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn was born on 19 February 1948 in Driehuis, as the third child to a Catholic family. His father worked as a salesman and his mother was a housewife. In 1967 he began to study sociology at the University of Amsterdam but transferred after a few months to the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In 1971 he ended his study with the Academic degree Doctorandus. In 1981 he received a doctorate in sociology at the University of Groningen as a Doctor of Philosophy.

Death
On May 6, 2002, Fortuyn was shot in the head, neck and chest in a car park outside a radio studio where he had just given an interview to Ruud de Wild at 3FM by 32-year-old, Volkert van der Graaf. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The attacker was pursued by Fortuyn's driver, Hans Smolders; he was arrested shortly afterwards while still in possession of the handgun used to kill Fortuyn.

Related pages
List of sociologists from Europe

 References 

 Other websites
  Bio at Parlement.com

Category:1948 births
Category:2002 deaths
Category:Dutch academics
Category:Dutch columnists
Category:Dutch councillors
Category:Dutch murder victims
Category:Dutch party chairs
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Category:Dutch sociologists
Category:Leaders of political parties in the Netherlands
Category:Gay men
Category:LGBT academics
Category:LGBT Christians
Category:Dutch LGBT politicians
Category:LGBT scientists
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Category:Murders by firearm
Category:People from Velsen
Category:People murdered in the Netherlands
Category:Pim Fortuyn List politicians
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