Pointless Violence
Encyclopedia
Senseless Violence or Zinloos Geweld (Dutch
) is a term frequently used by among others the media, politicians and NGOs
to define the nature of several shocking events in Belgium
and the Netherlands
in recent years. The term expresses the perceived senselessness of the occurred acts of violence
. As such, its use is politically charged and may not reflect any unique elements of any particular crime given that label.
, a Frisia
n newspaper in which he made an appeal to the Dutch population to have a minute of silence for Meindert Tjoelker, who was killed on 13 September 1997. This minute was necessary "to make it clear to everyone that the Frisian society does not accept senseless violence". A wave of reactions followed, which also included a media hype. As a consequence, much more attention was spent to every similar case of violence, which led to the perception that violence was on the increase.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
) is a term frequently used by among others the media, politicians and NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
to define the nature of several shocking events in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in recent years. The term expresses the perceived senselessness of the occurred acts of violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
. As such, its use is politically charged and may not reflect any unique elements of any particular crime given that label.
Origin of the term
The term "senseless violence", in the meaning used in this article, was first used in 1997 by Cees Bangma, district chief of the Dutch police unit Midden-Friesland. Before 1997 the term was merely used for excessive war violence and had a less moral connotation. Bangma used it in a letter written to the Leeuwarder CourantLeeuwarder Courant
The Leeuwarder Courant is the oldest daily newspaper in the Netherlands. Founded by Abraham Ferwerda, it first appeared in 1752. The Leeuwarder Courant was the first paper in the Dutch province Friesland and its capital Leeuwarden...
, a Frisia
Frisia
Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
n newspaper in which he made an appeal to the Dutch population to have a minute of silence for Meindert Tjoelker, who was killed on 13 September 1997. This minute was necessary "to make it clear to everyone that the Frisian society does not accept senseless violence". A wave of reactions followed, which also included a media hype. As a consequence, much more attention was spent to every similar case of violence, which led to the perception that violence was on the increase.
Criticism
The term is often criticized because it seems to say that the violence which is not categorized as senseless is legitimate. Also, it is difficult, if not impossible, to define what constitutes "senseless violence". Others point out that the term is or can be misused by right wing politicians who strive for more repressive measures against crimes.Belgium
While there have been multiple isolated cases of fatal senseless violence in the last decade, the number of deadly incidents has surged since April 2006. The following is a non-exhaustive list of deadly incidents since 1998:- November 28, 1998: Patrick Mombaerts (died in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
after being beaten by very young robbers, who were sentenced to community serviceCommunity serviceCommunity service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
only). - March 25, 1999: Christel De Jonghe (killed by a never uncovered immigrant during a robbery in Antwerp).
- April 2002: unidentified woman (died of a heart attack after being chased and attacked by youths in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
). - May 7, 2002: Ahmed Isnasni and Habiba El Hajji (shot to death in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
by their neighbour Hendrik Vyt, who then killed himself). - October 2002: unidentified elderly woman (died from wounds suffered in a street robbery in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
). - November 26, 2002: Mohammed Achrak (shot to death in Antwerp by his neighbour; murder led to city wide riotRiotA riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s). - December 19, 2003: Glenn Wijnants (stabbed to death in Antwerp by a man for no apparent reason).
- April 12, 2006: Joe Van HolsbeeckJoe Van HolsbeeckJoe Van Holsbeeck was a 17-year-old Belgian teenager who was murdered on April 12, 2006 at Brussels Central train station. This murder, following the attempted theft of an MP3 player, took place at approximately 4:30 in the afternoon, during rush hour...
(stabbed to death by two young during a daytime robbery in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
). - May 11, 2006: Oulemata Niangadou and Luna DrowartHans Van ThemscheHans Van Themsche was, at age 18, a student who, in the city of Antwerp, shot three people; life-threateningly injuring one and killing two, before being stopped by a police bullet...
(shot and killed by Hans Van ThemscheHans Van ThemscheHans Van Themsche was, at age 18, a student who, in the city of Antwerp, shot three people; life-threateningly injuring one and killing two, before being stopped by a police bullet...
during a suicidal rampage in Antwerp). - June 24, 2006: Guido DemoorGuido DemoorGuido Demoor was a Belgian NMBS/SNCB Thalys train driver and father of two children. He died on 24 June 2006 after an incident of violence in an Antwerp public transport bus.The exact circumstances under which Demoor died remain disputed in the media....
(train-driver who died after a hit against his head on an Antwerp bus by six youths he had asked to calm down). http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/vrtnieuws.net/nieuws/binnenland/071114_busincident_beroep - July 2, 2006: Philibert MeesPhilibert MeesPhilibert Mees was a Flemish composer and pianist. He was murdered in July 2006.In 1952, Mees obtained a degree at the Koninklijk Vlaams Conservatorium, the royal conservatory of Antwerp. He studied under the pianists Stevan Bergmann and Geza Anda.Mees formed a duo with BRT violist Roger...
(stabbed to death in his MechelenMechelenMechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
house by his neighbour). - October 21, 2006: Eddy Sabbe (beaten to death during a robbery by immigrants).
- November 3, 2006: Mohamed Benzil (killed after being pushed in front of an Antwerp tram by immigrants, possibly in a case of road rageRoad rageRoad rage is an aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions...
). - February 3, 2007: Bart Bonroy (18-year old stabbed to death in OstendOstendOstend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
by Kenny B. after he refused to give a cigaretteCigaretteA cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
). - February 20, 2007: Yannick Amba-Bongelo (17-year old CongoleseDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
who was stabbed to death by a gang of 30 youths during Mardi GrasMardi GrasThe terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
in BincheBincheBinche is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Binche had a total population of 32,409. The total area is 60.66 km² which gives a population density of 534 inhabitants per km²...
). - September 1, 2007: yet unnamed elderly man (stabbed to death in broad daylight in a busy street in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
by a 28-year old man). - December 4, 2007: Kitty Van Nieuwenhuysen (23-year old police officer shot to death in her patrol car when responding to a burglary).