Agora

At a conference in Vienna in Austria which is currently under way, European Moslems urged Europe to enact laws to ban defamation of religions. In a statement to Islamonline.net, Turfa Bagaghati, deputy chairman of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) said: “It is high time now that Muslims in Europe pressed for their rights like enacting laws banning aggression on Islam and enhancing Islamic education”.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations presented a luke-warm response to these demands from European Moslems, saying: “Freedom of religion is non-negotiable. It is a fundamental right of individuals and communities and entails respect for the integrity of all religious convictions and all ways in which they are exercised. Similarly, freedom of expression is central to Europe’s values and traditions. It is also non-negotiable. But it does come with responsibilities and should be exercised with the necessary sensitivity to others.”

According to Jyllands-Posten today, Amar Hariba of the World Islamic Call Society said: “The insult of prophets in the name of Freedom of Speech is a crime which cannot be ignored. We therefore ask the European Union to adopt laws to prohibit that kind of insults.”

To this blog, it seems clear that the European commissioner has chosen sides: For Religion and against Freedom of Speech. By qualifying Freedom of Expression and not Freedom of Religion, she has once again said to the world that Europe at large has no special interest in defending Freedom of Speech.

The delegate from Denmark was Imam Abdul Wahid Petersen who has declared himself in favor of making Sharia the law of the land.

The conference is expected to agree on a statement that will be issued today.

Related links:
Description of the Conference from April 3rd

Lately there’s been a lot of debate in Denmark about the host of a new debate programme on TV which Asmaa Abdol-Hamid will be hosting together with Adam Holm. The most talked-about subject has been Asmaa’s hijab scarf. Here’s a picture of her:

Personally I don’t think it’s a problem. If that’s her choice - and she has indicated that it is - then let her keep it. People stick metal rods through their tongues and that’s not a problem either - though I daresay it would create a stir if a host on TV had one. But I do object to the views she represents and the fact that she can’t keep them to herself while acting as a host. This rather long post is going to be about that.

Who is Asmaa Abdol-Hamid?

Asmaa is a social worker in the town of Odense. She came to Denmark in 1988 when she was six. She and her family - six siblings and her mother and father - had fled first from Lebanon to the United Arab Emirates and then to Denmark.
Source: Article in Jyllands-Posten “Asmaa på hjemmebane”. March 16, 2005
(more…)

This is a transcript of an interview with Naser Khader in the programme ‘Søndag’ from DR’s TV-Avisen, 21:15 April 2nd 2006. A link to the online programme is provided so you should be able to follow the conversation by looking at the transcript.
Link to programme.

Natasja Crone: Good evening and welcome, Naser Khader.

Naser Khader: Good evening.

Natasja Crone: What happened the first time you heard about this clip where Akkari made the remarks we are about to see?

Naser Khader: I would like to emphasise this: I didn’t have a nervous breakdown. I didn’t go into hiding. But I needed a time-out. And that’s not so much because of what the ridiculous Akkari says that’s the problem. It was what came before. I was contacted by the French journalist who produced the programme who told me that this group, they hate me with a vengeance, that my name is mentioned every five minutes, that they’re conducting a massive smear campaign against me, not only in Denmark, but also in the Islamic world.

Natsja Crone: So he just called you up?

Naser Khader: Yes, and then he told me, before the programme was aired. But also the build-up to the airing of the programme, the day before, the media almost went on berserk. That made my family very worried, so I needed to withdraw, take a time-out and consider my situation.
(more…)

The party we in Denmark call “De Radikale”, I refer to in this article as the Social Liberals, because that is the international equivalent. But it’s important to note that this party is also known to have a love affair with Classic Liberalism, apart from their fling with Socialism. “De Radikale” means “The Radicals” in the literal translation and they’ve been at the forefront of the fight against religious dogmas and ignorance since their conception. Unfortunately, they’ve usually also been at the forefront of the “stabbing Denmark in the back” crowd. Perhaps Naser Khader will give them some hair to go with their balls. Who knows…

This article appeared in Berlingske Tidende on Sunday, April 2nd, 2006. It’s a long interview with Naser Khader where he ouitlines his thoughts on the Danish Imams and their extremist organisations and how to counter them as a democratic Moslem.

“We are Facing an Incognizable Enemy from Within”
By Jesper Larsen

Much of Naser Khader’s time is currently spent in his office where newspapers are cluttered about and books line the walls from floor to ceiling. The literature is diverse - everything from the Koran and other holy books to Anne Vibeke-Holst and that sort of thing.

[Note: Anne Vibeke-Holst is a paperback writer. Mushy stuff.]

His bodyguards from the Police Intelligence Service are constantly within reach and follow him 24 hours a day. Recently an advertising distributor who was confused and semi-suspiciously going to and fro on the sidewalk, carrying ads for a new pizza place felt this. He was detained immediately.

“My family felt it. My wife Bente said that I sometimes repeated myself and talked nonsense. I am constantly tense. When we’re out of the house, I am almost paranoid and just want to get back home. But I know I have protection and that does make me feel safer. The thing is though, that I feel I am wearing manacles.”
(more…)

This is a transcript of three consecutive segments from DR’s TV-Avisen, Saturday 18:30 April 1st 2006, reporting on the Democratic Moslems’ annual general meeting. Links to the online clips are provided, so you should be able to follow what they say in the clips by reading the transcript simultaneously.
(more…)

This is a feature article from Politiken which appeared this Saturday. The evening of that day, the Democratic Moslems organisation held their general annual meeting, which created quite a stir in Denmark. I will be posting some more articles about this subject. So far it seems that Naser Khader has managed to pull off a spectacular public relations coup for moderate, democratically minded Moslems in Denmark and I must say that I am pleased. If only he were a moderate Liberal instead of a right-wing Social Liberal…

Related posts:
A Prize Immigrant
Danish Imam Abu Laban knew about planned Martyr operation
Danish Imam Ahmed Akkari: Kill Naser Khader
Ahmed Akkari: Latest News

Danish Moslems: Arise and Protest

Feature article from Politiken, April 1st, 2006
By Ibrahim Ramadan

My religion is threatened in this country.

Not because I am a part of a Moslem minority in a Christian country. Not for lack of Mosques. And not by the Danish People’s Party and their stereotypical depiction of Moslems.

My religion is threatened by people who claim to belong to the same faith as I do. Threatened by organisations such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir and by people such as Ahmed Akkari, Abu Laban and Raed Hlayhel who all claim to work to spread the word of God. In reality, they’re working towards another goal entirely - to control what other Moslems should believe, think and do.

Some Moslems in Denmark have accepted the Danish Imams’ words and take strong exception to Naser Khader. They think he has sold out the Arab cultural heritage and that he’s shed Moslem values to become accepted by the Danes.

But what few Moslems in Denmark understand is that Naser Khader more than any other works to ensure that we qua Moslems are seen as assets and aren’t looked down upon as a problem in Denmark.
(more…)

The latest news about Imam Ahmed Akkari and his death threats against Naser Khader of the social liberals.
As I reported in this post, Imam Ahmed Akkari on tape recorded with a hidden camera by French Journalist Mohammed Sifaoui made a remark about killing Danish Social Liberal Member of Parliament Naser Khader. (more…)