Your Say: The death that shocked the Dutch

(CNN) -- The murder of Dutch right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn has stunned the Netherlands and highlighted divides across Europe on issues like immigration and free speech. (Full story). CNN's Richard Quest asked for your views.

We have had more than 300 responses, most of them from the Netherlands. Here are just some of your comments. We are unable to publish more responses, but you can still have your say by mailing quest@cnn.com

EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: Netherlands Decides 2002    MORE STORIES • Dutch elections on despite murder

He was NOT, as most of the media in the world say, a racist or far right wing politician. He had the guts to say what most of the people in Holland thought, and he spoke the language of the people. He didn't use clever word tricks like the other politicians do, but he just told everybody what he thought. So the killing of Fortuyn has made him the Dutch JFK. Ruud Lassche, Holland

In the beginning Mr Pim Fortuyn made me sick. However, later on it became clear that he is not a right-wing extremist. It's a bloody shame that we will never know if he was truly capable and if his intentions were truly good. Respect for this man. Sjaak, Amsterdam

Holland stands for freedom, freedom of speech. We don't have that anymore. Sharon Blokvoort, the Netherlands

Pim Fortuyn gave a human face to issues, often addressed by extremists. He walked the path of the righteous, as so many murdered idealists. Fernand van Immerzeel, Amsterdam

Mr Fortuyn's murder has been a shock to the entire country. Until that day, we had lived with a sense of security. This is a peaceful country. Naturally, we have crime like all other countries, but the murder of this politician is unprecedented. Daniel, Hilversum, the Netherlands

It's time that CNN and the rest of the international press see that Pim Fortuyn is/was NOT a racist, NOT a fascist. Aschwin Versteegden, the Netherlands

The brutal killing of Pim Fortuyn yesterday has made a more profound impact on Dutch people than the 11th of September. The feeling of security has been gravely attacked by this murder. Armon van Lier, the Netherlands

I absolutely did not appreciate Pim's ways of thinking and his thoughs but he woke a lot of people and had them involved in politics. Why would you kill a person that thinks diffently than you? If we start doing this we are at the end of the world. Rendert de Vos, The Netherlands

Pim Fortuyn was indeed a far right leader with controversial and sometimes not well-founded ideas. But he was NOT a racist, although a part of our society gave him this image. Daniel Hoogstraate, Amsterdam

When I was in Holland a couple of weeks ago, he was constantly in the news and I thought "finally someone is shaking the politics in Holland". Kill a person with a good brain, new thoughts, energy and a belief -- very sad. Roger Rademaker, Panama

Mr Fortuijn was not a right wing extremist but a concerned Netherlands citizen who was fed up with the liberal, socialistic way of not ruling and spoiling our beautiful country. MV Tharsis

Although I do not believe in his right wing politics, I very much respect the man. He has stirred up public interest in politics. He would

have been a great player in the opposition. Jos Kloose, Amsterdam

What happened yesterday was an enormous happening in the world which will affect all democracies. Pim Fortuyn was a man who stood up for his opinion and his ideas and isn't that what a democracy is all about? The Netherlands in particular is a country which is well known for its freedom in speech. It's a terrible thing and a shame that something like this happened here. What will be next? Jade Lynn Giada, The Netherlands

This could serve a warning to all people that you cannot play or dabble with extreme right wing ideologies and get away with it. Charles Sappa, Germany

What has occurred is a national, European, maybe even global tragedy. Many people will wonder what developments are in store for all of us. There's an atmosphere of total devastation. Laurent Knoops, Rotterdam

What yesterday happened in the Netherlands is a crime against democracy, a crime against freedom for speech, a crime against humanity. I didn't agree with some of his points of view, but that fact doesn't give me the right to shoot a person. The result was a shameless murder. In the next days it will be more important to search for causes. Christophe de Cock, Belgium

Far right or far left - politically incorrect or not - more respect and tolerance should be shown to people who dare to "stand up and speak", asking important questions many politicians don't dare to ask. What happened in Holland was tragic. Nina, Nice

By killing Mr. Fortuin, they killed the voice of the people. Now we know that democracy isn't what it should be. You learn a lot of someone's words and ideas even if you think they are not right. And if you want to fight these words, you fight them with words and not with a bullet. Lieven Verpoorten, Belgium

It is a bloody shame what happened to that great guy. He was the only Dutch politician who had the guts the say what was on is his mind. I condemn the shooting very much. The killing was stupid because now Holland is really awake and others will take his place. Erik van de Ven, The Netherlands

I am ashamed of my own country. Not just now, after the murder of Pim Fortuyn, but I have been ashamed of my own country for a long time now. The Netherlands is widely regarded as a tolerant country, but as from 6 May I hope that the world will think otherwise. The Netherlands is not tolerant; if you are not left-wing, if you do not support the liberal, progressive tendency in Dutch politics, people feel free to make jokes about you or call you names. Pim Fortuyn did not fit into our political system, and he paid a heavy price for it. Hannelore Wagemakers

I have always opposed Pim Fortuyn. Too often he insulted others, especially Muslims. But the shock his death has on me and on the majority of the population in his city Rotterdam is immense. Tomorrow we have the UEFA Cup final in Rotterdam. The decision of UEFA not to cancel the final is immoral. It is proof once again that UEFA knows no dignity, has no respect for life and has no respect for democracy. Rene Romer, Rotterdam

I know he was against Islam but he at least had a solution for the problem Holland has: We are getting full. Pim Fortuyn rest in peace. Sandra, The Netherlands

The Netherlands grieves because it has been deprived of coming out of the closet with their racist views. Their famed tolerance stemming from passive racism has been shattered. Ferial Inja