Agora

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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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Note from Agora: I know I’ve been away for some time. I just got thoroughly sick of thinking about the two little weasels Akkari and Laban. I’ll be returning to my regular schedule now.

This is a translation of an interview Mohammed Sifaoui did yesterday with Politiken. Sifaoui is the French Journalist who did a documentary exposing the Danish Imams Ahmed Akkari and Abu Laban as dangerous extremists:

French Journalist: Danish Imams are Extremists

The man behind the controversial French documentary thinks that Abu Laban and Ahmed Akkari are extremists disguised as moderates.
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Mohammed al-Asadi gave this interview which was published today, to the Danish newspaper Information’s correspondent in Cairo. He was released on bail February 22, following international pressure. Al-Asadi is still in good health and managed on March 10 to leave Yemen to attend a journalists’ conference. Contrary to some reports he is facing the death penalty as this article makes clear. He intends to return to Yemen to fight the good fight.
See below the article for relevant links to resources on the al-Asadi trial.

It’s not my Prophet

“I don’t regret printing those cartoons. I was defending the Prophet, I was defending Islam against those who wish to use the religion to create conflicts and maintain their grip on power,” says Mohammed al-Asadi - the editor in chief of The Yemen Observer who is now on trial for his life for having printed three of the Danish Mohammed cartoons.

By Rune Lykkeberg

The Friday after he was released from jail, he went to pray at the Mosque. Mohammed al-Asadi had become a known face in Yemen: He had been presented as a criminal on national TV and in government-friendly newspapers. He was also a known face outside of Yemen: Newsweek did a telephone interview with him in prison where they called him a “martyr for the free press” and BBC World has told his story. This Friday Mohammed al-Asadi didn’t wish to be recognised. All he wanted to do was to go to Friday Prayers, so he walked towards a Mosque in a part of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, where he doesn’t usually go:
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I have covered the Manifesto here. Here the leader of the Danish People’s Party adds her signature. Here I link to a petition where you can sign the manifesto.

Are you daring enough to do so?

Death Threat against signers of Manifesto

By Jørgen Ullerup, Correspondent to Jyllands-Posten

Warning against Islamic totalitarianism brings death threats. On a website an Islamic group has made death threats against the 12 intellectuals, including Salman Rushdie, who recently signed a Manifesto against Islamic Totalitarianism.

/Paris/

According to one of the signers, the French writer Caroline Fourest, the threat was made this Saturday on the website ummah.net. It mentions a who’s who guide and a list of targets scheduled for termination.
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Shamelessly stolen from Irshad Manji’s webpage:

A priest, a rabbi, and a mullah meet at a conference about religion, and afterwards are sitting around discussing their different faiths. The conversation turns to the topic of taboos.

The priest says to the rabbi and the mullah, “You guys can’t tell me that you’ve never eaten pork.”
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The Manifesto I covered in this post can now be supported online at this site. Don’t wait. Sign today. It’s target audience is the White House and the United Nations. I now ask all those bloggers who reposted this Manifesto to spread the news and sign the manifesto.

This is especially important since some Moslem countries are apparently trying to get a convention to ban slander about religious figures.

A couple of quotes from those who have already signed:

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Don’t be silenced by extremists

A plea from 11 Canadian Muslim academics and activists:

Feb. 28, 2006. 10:37 AM

A curtain of fear has descended on the intelligentsia of the West, including Canada. The fear of being misunderstood as Islamophobic has sealed their lips, dried their pens and locked their keyboards.

With hundreds dead around the world in the aftermath of the now infamous Danish cartoons, Canada’s writers, politicians and media have imposed a frightening censorship on themselves, refusing to speak their minds, thus ensuring that the only voices being heard are that of the Muslim extremists and the racist right.

Emboldened by the free rein they have received, Canada’s Muslim extremists and their supporters flexed their muscles at Queen’s Park last week, with speakers promising to drown the Danish people "in their own blood".

A protestor carried the sign "Kurt Westgaard - countdown to justice has begun … it’s just a matter of time."

Elsewhere, in Pakistan, a Muslim woman was pictured carrying a sign, "God Bless Hitler," and a Muslim cleric placed a $1 million reward for the murder of a Danish cartoonist. Embassies were burned, churches ruined and hundreds died in different Muslim countries.

Undoubtedly, Muslims were angered by the insulting cartoons. But the overblown reaction was partly due to their pent-up frustrations, and partly the result of orchestrated mischief by certain Islamist leaders.

Islamic societies, run by variances of autocratic regimes, are in turmoil. Ravaged by rampant corruption, a widening gap between rich and poor, and suppression of dissent, the people in these societies have lost hope in their own futures.

The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, the unending occupation of the Palestinian territories and the quagmire of the Kashmiri dispute, have led many Muslims and non-religious peoples of Islamic origin, to view the West as the source of their countries’ problems.

The growing popularity of the extremists in Muslim societies, the electoral success of the likes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran, Shia radicals in Iraq, and Hamas in the Palestinian territories, rather than signifying the growing religiosity of the peoples of the Middle East, reflect political despair in the region.

In the West, people of Muslim origin, be they religious or secular, are facing growing racism, Islamophobia and discrimination reflected in immigration policies and anti-terrorist legislation.

The cartoon crisis was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

The Muslim extremists seized the opportunity and added fuel to fire. The calculated role played by the two Danish Muslim extremists, backed by Islamic fundamentalist regimes, is a case in point. They not only aggravated an already inflammatory situation, but added their own infuriating images, never published in the West, as they took their case to clerics in the Middle East.

Both, Imam Abu Laban and Ahmad Akkari have escaped the attention and scrutiny their acts deserved. These two men, who now sit in the comfort of their homes in Denmark, should be held accountable for their criminal actions.

For too long the media have created an image that portrays communities from the Muslim world as a monolith entity, best represented by extremists.

The media have created a false dichotomy that pits these Muslim extremists against the West. The fact is that in all Muslim countries, progressive citizens are trying to break loose from the tyranny of the autocrats and clerics and wish to develop a civil society where citizenship is based not on inherited race or religion, but the equality of all, irrespective of faith, race, sexuality or gender.

In Tehran today, the city’s bus drivers are on strike. Thousands have been arrested; entire families have disappeared. Yet, this has not made a blip in the western media.

If the same bus drivers were burning books or embassies, this would certainly be on the evening news. This is an appalling example that only outrageous, violent expressions of faith by Muslim extremists are taken as the aspirations of people from Islamic societies.

It is time for Canadians to stand up for the hard-won democratic values that the Muslim extremists oppose.

By rejecting the agenda of the extremists, Canada’s intelligentsia would be standing shoulder to shoulder with the Muslims and secular individuals from the region who reject both Islamophobia and Islamism. Islamism is not the new revolutionary movement against global forces of oppression, as a section of the left in this country erroneously perceives.

Today, the religious right and autocracies in the so-called Islamic world are united in their call for passing legislation to make any discussion on religion a criminal offence.

This, at a time when many writers in Jordan, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan are rotting in jails, facing charges of apostasy and blasphemy.

We call on Canadian politicians and intellectuals to stand up for freedom of expression.

Our democratic values, including free speech, should not be compromised under the garb of fighting hate.

To fight Islamophobia and racism, we do not need to sacrifice free speech and debate.

The authors

Jehad Aliweiwi, former executive director of the Canadian Arab Federation.

Taj Hashmi, sessional professor, Simon Fraser University.

Amir Hassanpour, associate professor, University of Toronto.

Tarek Fatah, host, The Muslim Chronicle, CTS-TV.

Tareq Y. Ismael, professor, University of Calgary.

Jacqueline S. Ismael, professor, University of Calgary.

El-Farouk Khaki, secretary general, Muslim Canadian Congress.

Shahrzad Mojab, associate professor, University of Toronto.

Haideh Moghissi, professor, York University.

 

Munir Pervaiz, secretary, Pakistan-Canadian Writers Forum.

 

Saeed Rahnema, professor, York University.

This just in, stay tuned as the story develops. I think we’ll be seeing people die in the coming days. You know, from "reactions"….

This will be brought in the French weekly Charlie Hebdo tomorrow, Wednesday. Charlie Hebdo has urged other papers to print it, as a show of solidarity. (Via: Jyllands-Posten)

Update: Follow the reactions in the blogosphere at the bottom of this post.

Update: Mainstream media coming onboard. Human Events just posted a story. Frontpage Magazine is now here too. More coming aboard? BBC decided to cover the story.

Update: Translations available: Spanish Dutch German French Danish Italian

Update: Also read this article in the Toronto Star from yesterday: "Don’t be silenced by extremists". I detect a trend.

MANIFESTO:

Together facing the new totalitarianism

After having overcome fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism, the world now faces a new totalitarian global threat: Islamism.

We, writers, journalists, intellectuals, call for resistance to religious totalitarianism and for the promotion of freedom, equal opportunity and secular values for all.

The recent events, which occurred after the publication of drawings of Muhammed in European newspapers, have revealed the necessity of the struggle for these universal values. This struggle will not be won by arms, but in the ideological field. It is not a clash of civilisations nor an antagonism of West and East that we are witnessing, but a global struggle that confronts democrats and theocrats.

Like all totalitarianisms, Islamism is nurtured by fears and frustrations. The hate preachers bet on these feelings in order to form battalions destined to impose a liberticidal and unegalitarian world. But we clearly and firmly state: nothing, not even despair, justifies the choice of obscurantism, totalitarianism and hatred. Islamism is a reactionary ideology which kills equality, freedom and secularism wherever it is present. Its success can only lead to a world of domination: man’s domination of woman, the Islamists’ domination of all the others. To counter this, we must assure universal rights to oppressed or discriminated people.

We reject « cultural relativism », which consists in accepting that men and women of Muslim culture should be deprived of the right to equality, freedom and secular values in the name of respect for cultures and traditions. We refuse to renounce our critical spirit out of fear of being accused of "Islamophobia", an unfortunate concept which confuses criticism of Islam as a religion with stigmatisation of its believers.

We plead for the universality of freedom of expression, so that a critical spirit may be exercised on all continents, against all abuses and all dogmas.

We appeal to democrats and free spirits of all countries that our century should be one of Enlightenment, not of obscurantism.

12 signatures

Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Chahla Chafiq
Caroline Fourest
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Irshad Manji
Mehdi Mozaffari
Maryam Namazie
Taslima Nasreen
Salman Rushdie
Antoine Sfeir
Philippe Val
Ibn Warraq

Presentations:

Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, from somilian origin, is member of Dutch parliement, member of the liberal party VVD. Writter of the film Submission which caused the assasination of Theo Van Gogh by an islamist in november 2004, she lives under police protection.

Chahla Chafiq
Chahla Chafiq, writer from iranian origin, exiled in France is a novelist and an essayist. She’s the author of "Le nouvel homme islamiste , la prison politique en Iran " (2002). She also wrote novels such as "Chemins et brouillard" (2005).

Caroline Fourest
Essayist, editor in chief of Prochoix (a review who defend liberties against dogmatic and integrist ideologies), author of several reference books on « laicité » and fanatism : Tirs Croisés : la laïcité à l’épreuve des intégrismes juif, chrétien et musulman (with Fiammetta Venner), Frère Tariq : discours, stratégie et méthode de Tariq Ramadan, et la Tentation obscurantiste (Grasset, 2005). She receieved the National prize of laicité in 2005.

Bernard-Henri Lévy
French philosoph, born in Algeria, engaged against all the XXth century « ism » (Fascism, antisemitism, totalitarism, terrorism), he is the author of La Barbarie à visage humain, L’Idéologie française, La Pureté dangereuse, and more recently American Vertigo.

Irshad Manji
Irshad Manji is a Fellow at Yale University and the internationally best-selling author of "The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith" (en francais: "Musulmane Mais Libre"). She speaks out for free expression based on the Koran itself. Née en Ouganda, elle a fui ce pays avec sa famille musulmane d’origine indienne à l’âge de quatre ans et vit maintenant au Canada, où ses émissions et ses livres connaissent un énorme succès.

Mehdi Mozaffari
Mehdi Mozaffari, professor from iranian origin and exiled in Denmark, is the author of several articles and books on islam and islamism such as : Authority in Islam: From Muhammad to Khomeini, Fatwa: Violence and Discourtesy and Glaobalization and Civilizations.

Maryam Namazie
Writer, TV International English producer; Director of the Worker-communist Party of Iran’s International Relations; and 2005 winner of the National Secular Society’s Secularist of the Year award.

Taslima Nasreen
Taslima Nasreen is born in Bangladesh. Doctor, her positions defending women and minorities brought her in trouble with a comittee of integrist called « Destroy Taslima » and to be persecuted as « apostate »

Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie is the author of nine novels, including Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses and, most recently, Shalimar the Clown. He has received many literary awards, including the Booker Prize, the Whitbread Prize for Best Novel, Germany’s Author of the Year Award, the European Union’s Aristeion Prize, the Budapest Grand Prize for Literature, the Premio Mantova, and the Austrian State Prize for European Literature. He is a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres, an Honorary Professor in the Humanities at M.I.T., and the president of PEN American Center. His books have been translated into over 40 languages.

Philippe Val
Director of publication of Charlie Hebdo (Leftwing french newspaper who have republished the cartoons on the prophet Muhammad by solidarity with the danish citizens targeted by islamists).

Ibn Warraq
Ibn Warraq , author notably of Why I am Not a Muslim ; Leaving Islam : Apostates Speak Out ; and The Origins of the Koran , is at present Research Fellow at a New York Institute conducting philological and historical research into the Origins of Islam and its Holy Book.

Antoine Sfeir
Born in Lebanon, christian, Antoine Sfeir choosed french nationality to live in an universalist and « laïc » (real secular) country. He is the director of Les cahiers de l’Orient and has published several reference books on islamism such as Les réseaux d’Allah (2001) et Liberté, égalité, Islam : la République face au communautarisme (2005).

International Media Coverage:

Al Jazeera: "Writers slam Islamic ‘totalitarianism’"

Independent Online, ZA: "Writers take aim at Islamic ‘totalitarianism’"

Mail & Guardian Online, ZA: Rushdie rails against Islamic ‘totalinarianism’

Human Events: "Noted European Intellectuals Make Public Plea to Fight Islamism"

Quote: It will be interesting to watch how many in the European and American press take notice of this declaration, and how many will continue to avoid the debate in the guise of avoiding “Islamophobia.” Hat tip to Michelle Malkin for calling attention to the declaration.

Frontpage Magazine: "A Manifesto Against Totalitarianism"  (It’s story number four from the top)

Quote: And you can add my name to that list.

Middle East Times: "Salman Rushdie, other condemn Islamic ‘totalitarianism’"

BBC: "Writers issue cartoon row warning"

Quote: Almost all of those who have signed the statement have experienced difficulties with Islamic militancy first-hand, says the BBC’s Caroline Wyatt in Paris.

National Journal Blogometer: "JYLLANDS-POSTEN: Rushdie Limbaugh?"

Quote: Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper which ran the controversial Muhammad cartoons last fall, has now published "Manifesto: Together facing the new totalitarianism." Signatories include longstanding fatwa target Salman Rushdie and fellow targets Somali-born Dutch parliamentarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali, French "American Vertigo" author Bernard-Henri Levy, Canadian feminist Muslim Irshad Manji and a half-dozen others.

Townhall.com: "Muslim Dissenters Make Public Stand Against Islamism"

The Statesman: "Rushdie, others against Islamic ‘totalitarianism’"

 

Reactions from the Blogosphere:

Atlas Shrugs: "A Manifesto Slams Islamic Totalitarianism"

Pamela adds: Heads are gonna roll………..no pun intended.

My Pet Jawa: "A Manifesto Against Islamofascism"

Jawa adds: Add my name.

Vince Aut Morire: "I’ll Take Your Fatwa And Raise You A Manifesto"

Vince adds: Throw my name on there too.

The Stockholm Spectator: "Rushdie’s Manifesto to Be Printed Tomorrow"

Moynihan adds: Riots to follow, no doubt.

No Pasaran!: "File under: freedom"

Michelle Malkin: "A Manifesto Against Islamism"

Michelle adds: Show Sammenhold. Spread the word far and wide.

Johan Norberg: "Against the New Totalitarians"

Snouck Hurgronje: "Liberal Jihad"

Snouck adds: In order to win the respect of a Muslim, you stand up to him. Death or Victory!"

Queer Conservative: "We Must All Hang Together, Or Assuredly We Shall All Hang Separately"

Captain’s Quarters: "The New Totalitarian Threat"

CQ adds: Salman Rushdie knows firsthand what Islamism has done to free expression. His inclusion in this effort by Charlie Hebdo in France shows a unity that others in the media would do well to emulate.

Small Town Veteran: "Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali et al: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

SMT adds: Add my name too, Rusty. Islamism delenda est! Death before dhimmitude.

PBS Watch: "No Retreat, No Surrender"

PBS adds: These people are putting their lives on the line. They deserve our support. Pass the word, republish this on your blog. If you have influence with print or electronic media, get them to publish the manifesto and the cartoons.

A Tic In The Mind’s Eye: "On Board With This!"

Tic adds: In support and solidiarity for and with my fellow artists and writers I post this manifesto for freedom of speech printed by Læs Jyllands-Postens.

JunkYardBlog: "Militant Islam and Children"

JYB adds: This is about the only response any freedom-loving person can have to an ideology that goes out of its way to abuse and kill children and destroy everything it comes into contact with. Islamism destroys nations, faiths, families, lives, freedom itself. Read the rest. And sign me up.

The Anti-Corn Law League: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

TACLL adds: Salman Rushdie has more cojones than 10 other men put together.

Slapstick Politics: "A 21st Century Manifesto For Freedom"

House Of The Dog: "A Manifesto Against Islamism"

Little Green Footballs: "A Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

LGF adds: And you can add my name to that list.

Tim Blair: "Resistance"

Stop The Aclu: "A Manifesto Against Islamism"

STA adds: What can one say to such a magnificently written, and clear cut message. Wake up America! We are talking about freedom here! Add my name to the list!

FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog: "Muhammad Caricature Watch: Manifesto Against ISLAMISM"

FFDB adds: Spread the Word…… Write and ask these newspapers to print and sign the Manifesto:

New York Times
Washington Post
Los Angeles Times
Oh, and don’t bet the farm on a favorable reply………

The Belmont Club: "Blowback"

Belmont adds: This represents a substantial — but not a total — departure from the strategic idea of treating Islam as a religion of peace and focusing on a narrow group of miscreants within it as the true enemy. The Manifesto shifts the definition of the enemy from a group of people to an ideology. If Jim Geraghty is right the threat to the President’s original strategic focus comes not from a single party or even from the his traditional opponents on the Left, but a kind of populist mood swing engendered by a cumulative disenchantment.

GM’s Corner: "Manifesto Against The New Totalitarianism"

GM adds: Captain Ed and Agora believe that this Manifesto deserves the widest possible circulation. I agree. For those that do not believe that Islamism or Islamofascism is the greatest threat to world peace at the present time, please read this and ponder its message.

Floyd Stuart: "Relegate them to the dustbin of history"

Floyd adds: Salmaan Rushdie and Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali are among twelve signers of a statement making a resounding denunciation of Islamism. Here’s a jarring left hook.

Tipping Points: "Manifesto Against Islamism!"

TP adds: Michelle Malkin is on it. You can add my name any time you want, guys.

Gateway Pundit: "A Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

GP adds: Brave World Writers and Intellectuals Make a Stand Against Islamofascism […] Earlier this month, Charlie Hebdo published the Danish cartoons together with one it had commissioned for its cover showing the Prophet Muhammad muttering, "It’s hard to be loved by morons."

A Blog For All: "The Manifesto Against Islamist Totalitarianism"

ABFA adds: This is one posting that deserves very wide distribution. The twelve people who wrote and signed their names to this letter know first hand what totalitarianism and militant Islam can do in the name of their religious views. It will be interesting to see how big media outlets cover this particular story.[…]As Charles said, I sign my name to this letter as well.

The Party Line: "Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Aaron adds: You can add my name as well.

Strong As An Ox And Nearly As Smart: "Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali et al Slam Islamic Totalitarianism"

Michael adds: They can protest all they want. Damn, that’s the American way! But threats mean no respect, and violence means that they are disrepecting their own religion far more than an Infidel like I could. If there is an Allah, He has got to be wondering how His work got so screwed up, especially since nothing is supposed to happen without His OK.

The Asylum: "A Manifesto Against Radical Islam"

Syd & Vaugn adds: And once again I say: Sign us onto this manifesto.

The Stoner Pundit: "Couldn’t have said it better"

Andrés Gentry: "Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Myopic Thoughts: "Resistance To Totalitarianism"

Norton adds: The world has seem a number of ideologies that are forms of totalitarianism. Islamism is the totalitarianism that threatens us today.

Tongues of Angels: "A Manifesto Against Islamism"

LTA adds: Bravo.

Instapundit: "A Manifesto Against The New Islamic Totalitarianism"

Glenn adds: Bravo.

Blue Star Chronicles: "Manifesto Against Islam"

Beth adds: Solidarity. The 12 people who wrote and signed this document know very well the risk they take. We need to send a clear message that they don’t stand alone.

Stuck On Stupid: "Manifesto Against Islamist Totalitarianism"

SOS adds: Never Forget 9.1.1

Elder of Ziyon: "A Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

EoZ adds: This manifesto is a proper response to the immature and absurd riots that have broken out, meant to show Muslims are not totally impotent. The West needs to understand the threat posed by political Islam and Islamism. Let us hope that other newspapers have the guts to publish and support this.

Freie Gedanken: "Manifest gegen den neuen Totalitarismus"

FG adds: Mehr gibt es dazu nicht zu sagen. Wahrscheinlich ist die Zeit reif dafür, dass es ein Grossteil der Leute begreift.

The Volokh Conspiracy: "Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Bernard-Henri Lévy, and Others"

Steel Deal: "They Should Know"

SD adds: I take them at their word - so should the WORLD.

My Fleeting Thoughts: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Maximum Advantage Discussed: "Worthless Whores"

SRL adds: Salman Rushdie would know.

Crossing the Rubicon2: "Spreading Quickly Through Political Blogs…"

CTR2 adds: Brave?  Foolhardy?  We will have to watch the scenario unfold

Protein Wisdom: "A Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

PW adds: Yes, I’m thrilled to see others engaging in the same type of argument, which points out the structural problems within the Islamic worldview itself and recognizes the need to counter this structural deficiencies with memetics of western liberalism—namely, the promotion of “universal” individual rights as a counter to pernicious group-based collectivist politicking.

Wizbang!: "Standing up to Islamic Totalitarianism"

Wizbang adds: These 12 brave souls.

Simi Valley Sophist: "Islamism-A Global Threat & the Manifesto"

SVS adds: Many writers, scholars and commentators are on the forefront of recognizing Islamism as the totalitarian challenge of the 21st century. But, it takes a special courage to speak out against Islamism when you come from countries and cultures that are spawning Islamism.

The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler: "While The American Lamestream Media Are Cowering Under Their Desks…"

Misha adds: …a dozen European writers, journalists and intellectuals, Salman Rushdie among them, have decided to stand up and be counted.

Musings of the Geek with a .45: "They Almost Get It Right…"

MOTGWA45 adds: They plead. They plead to the same dark forces they decry "for the universality of freedom of expression, so that a critical spirit may be exercised on all continents, against all abuses and all dogmas." That’s not how it works.

Freedom’s Truth & Liberating Iraq: "A Manifesto Against ‘Islamism’"

FT adds: Sign me up as well.

Snarking Dawg: "Twelve Infidels on Twelve Infidelities"

Dawg adds: Jyllands-Posten, the courageous Danish magazine which originally published the infamous cartoons has served another volley in the form of a manifesto signed by twelve intellectuals, each of whom have had their own unique engagements with Islamism.

I Am, Therefore I Think: "Add My Name, Too"

Sum, Ergo Cogito adds: Having already published the Dirty Dozen cartoons, I now add my own assent to the statement signed by Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and ten other prominent figures who find themselves targeted by radical Islamists.

Urbangrounds: "A Manifesto Against Islam"

Urbangrounds adds: I proudly add my own name to this list in full, unwaivering support of this manifesto.

Hyperstition: "The Desert Grows …"

Hyperstition adds: Lights going out in Europe. Update: Manifesto against Islamic Totalitarianism.

The Dread Pundit Bluto: "A Manifesto Against Totalitarianism"

Bluto adds: Add The Dread Pundit Bluto to the list, with one proviso - I don’t "plead" for freedom of expression, I demand it.

Merry Musings: "Manifesto for Two, Please"

MM adds: Please, sign me up. Vinnie, my dear, you need some competition for your fatwa.

California Patriot: "Manifesto against Islamic Totalitarianism"

Patrick adds: Blogs from all over the world are republishing the document as a show of solidarity. It’s Islam Awareness Week on the Berkeley campus. Perhaps this is the perfect time to discuss this issue. Let’s prove the Daily Cal wrong: symbolic gestures can play an important part in this great debate.

JasonColeman: "A Manifesto for the new millennium…"

JC adds: As an atheist, it makes perfect sense for me to agree with this. As an American, it makes even more sense. As a product of Western Civilization, it makes even more. As one human among 6.5 billion others, even more. In fact, I can’t find a single solitary reason to disagree with any of this. So I’ll make it mine and add my name to the list. Mr. Rushdie and others, I’m proud to stand with you.

The Infidelphian Outpost: "Manifesto to the World (sign it, if you dare)"

Jauhara al-Kafirah adds: "This is important. Read the following statement. INTERNALIZE IT ALL!! Republish it on your blog, pass it around. Make everyone aware of it and goldurnit..SIGN IT!"

The Political Pit Bull: "Standing Up To Islamism"

Kim Priestap: "Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

Kim adds: These are very brave souls who signed this manifesto.

Hennessy’s View: "Manifesto Against Islamism"

Hennessy adds: Perhaps it’s time for a fight to the finish.

Dr. Sanity: "Manifesto Against Islamism"

Sanity adds: We don’t want your Sharia/To Hell with your opression of women/To Hell with your intolerance and hatred/We will stand for our values/And never surrender to your tyranny.

The End Zone: "Manifesto: a courageous stand against the new totalitarianism"

Greg Cotharn adds: Add my name.

Bobalonius: "12 signatures"

Bobalonius adds: Current Mood: ecstatic

Liberal Catnip: "This Is What it’s Come To: A Manifesto Against Islamism"

Catnip adds: Its word are stunning, extreme and fly in the face of religious tolerance. Its target is Islam - not the extremists who have hijacked the religion - but the religion itself. It’s the equivalent of a western call for a jihad and it’s unacceptable.

Ebenezer: "A Manifesto Against Islamism"

Ebenezer adds: Read the whole thing.  It will be interesting to see if this catches on or is just a passing fancy.

Bill_Millan: "A ‘Clash of Civilizations?’"

Pekin Prattles: "A Manifesto Against Islamism!"

Pekin adds: About time somebody, somewhere, stood up and noticed this….. […] Too long have politically correct idiots manned the bulwarks of decency and common sense while we slowly slide under the thumb of ridiculous ideas from a single-sided ranting of the Islamofascists….joined all too often by near-moderate muslims!

Life Through My Eyes: "A Manifesto against Islamism"

LTME adds: A manifesto against Islamism has been created by some influential names, and is being passed around the internet and the world. I recommend you put it on your blog and promote it around the world!

Free Frank Warner: "This says it: MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Dr. Melissa Clouthier: "Islamism Manifesto: Rushdie May Get Another Death Fatwa"

Melissa adds: It’s about time! I’ve been ranting and raving about Islamism and the cow-towing of Western Democracies. It must stop. Civilization depends on free people fighting the IDEOLOGICAL battle for freedom!

The Squiggler: "A Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

Squiggler adds: To put it in the simplest of terms, tolerance of the intolerant is not tolerance. By repeating the mantra that we must be respectful of the Muslim cultural sensibilities, we are effectively denying millions of the universal rights of freedom and equality. We are, for all intents and purposes, making Muslims 2nd class beings whose culture denies them full citizen/person status.

Body Parts: "Manifesto Against Islamist Totalitarianism"

BP adds: We support it. Many conservative bloggers support it. You should support it. And you should keep a list of those who refuse to support it.

Caribpundit: "No to Islamic Totalitarianism"

CP adds: We will never surrender!

E-NOUGH!: "A manifesto against the new totalitarianism, Islamism"

Deep Keel: "The Manifesto Opposing Islamist Totalitarianism"

DK adds: The Free World has three options facing it:  1) establish forcefully with peaceful means like public expression that we will not surrender our freedom, 2) appease until we have no choice left but to fight a war of civilizations, and 3) surrender to Islamist rule.  Stand and be heard while it still can make a difference.

The Reid Report: "Bad headline avoidance 101: Bring back the Cartoon Jihad!!!"

Reid adds: What a bunch of overblown, self-important, pretentious, indulgent rubbish. The people protesting those ridiculous, offensive cartoons aren’t all Islamists, folks — they’re mainly ordinary Muslims who were freaking pissed off that Jyllands Posten published the cartoons.

Fish Taco Stand: "To Face the New Totalitarianism"

Taco adds: The new totalitarianism that the global jihadists would create must be faced with seriousness of purpose, and not only the will to oppose the jihad with warfare, but also the will to do whatever it takes to convince the rest of the world that we (the West) are right and they (Jihadists) are wrong.

Bob The Nominal Pirate: "Finally, Rushdie is heard from."

Bob adds: From the brave newspaper that brought you the Forbidden Mohammed Cartoons,* Jyllands-Posten. A manifesto signed by Salman Rushdie and other familiar names in the struggle against Jihadism. […] Watch out; fatwas will be issued, riots started, assassins dispatched. It will happen.

Jihad I Malmö: "Rushdie m fl: Islamismen globalt hot"

Grabbag: "Islamism, The New Face of Totalitarianism?"

Antibuerokratieteam.de: "Dem neuen Totalitarismus gemeinsam entgegentreten"

Aquarius: "Forfattere i frontalangreb på islamisme"

ExTrEmE_bLoG: "Klar tale.."

Polemiken: "Nu går Salman Rushdie ud og advarer verden direkte mod islam"

Polemiken: "Mere om Salman Rushdie og det manifest, som han og 11 andre kunstnere og intellektuelle har fremsat i dag."

Sneakeasy’s Joint: "Speaking up for a Century of Enlightenment"

Speakeasy adds:  Salman Rushdie, and a few other Intellectuals, have proclaimed a MANIFESTO AGAINST THE NEW ISLAMIC TOTALITARIANISM…. The piece is a powerful statement of belief, and purpose, that needs the widest audience possible, and the support of Freedom, and Democracy, Loving people everywhere….

The Other Club: "If the West can just match their courage"

TOC adds: Fatwas calling for their murder will certainly follow. This is definitely going to inflame the Islamofascist protesters, so can the Western press justify printing it? Let us see how much coverage these courageous Muslims receive for putting their lives on the line in defense of liberty.

Dansk-Svensk: "Rushdie advarer mod militant islam"

Confederate Yankee: "Some will not go Quietly"

CY adds: In a Europe seemingly paralyzed by fear, a dozen brave souls speak out in this translation in Jyllands-Posten. […] All freedoms worth having must be fought for to be cherished. Dine-and-dash pacifists who risk nothing, deserve nothing, and very often get exactly that. I will not go quietly into submission.

Infidel Bloggers’ Alliance: "Manifesto: ‘Together We Are facing the new totalitarianism’"

Filtrat.dk: "Together We Are facing the new totalitarianism"

The Missing Link: "A Manifesto for Freedom"

Commoner Sense: "Recognizing dissent"

CS adds: I’m not hopeful that this manifesto with catch on. Most likely the mainstream media will stuff it down the memory hole, preferring to devote yet more coverage to bearded troglodytes hurling stones at embassies. I’ve written before pointing out the dangerous tendency in the west to ignore dissent in the Muslim world. Reuters and other major news outlets regularly print statements such as this: "Muslims consider any images of Mohammad to be blasphemous."

Six Days: "Manifesto"

Six Days adds: "This just in from some of the biggest names in anti-dhimmitude. Lets see if the cowardly media that failed to print those cartoons will also shy away from printing this manifesto. If this courage can be found, I do not expect a generous reception from the ROP. Just as with the pictures, it falls to every blogger out there to reprint it and I am doing my humble bit."

The Astute Blogger: "The Much Bally-Hooed Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism!"

TAB adds: "It’s swell that these famous Left-leaning intellectuals have taken a universalist/non-relativist stand on human rights, but the REAL issue is: What are they willing to do about it?! Are they willing to support a proactive, bold, aggressive counter-attack - including sanctions, blockades and even preemptive military strikes? Will they urge their own nations to do more to help the USA and the UK and the other coalition members assist the emerging Iraqi democracy?"

James D Hudnall: "Manifesto Against Islamists"

JDH adds: Right on. I’d add my name to this list if they’d take it.

Harry’s Place: "Writers against Islamism"

Rantburg: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Rantburg adds: You can add my name to the list.

Sock Puppet of Doom: "Together facing the new totalitarianism"

SPOD adds: Count me in. Jyllands-Posten is running this. Add my name to the list. When Theo van Gogh was murdered I knew I had to speak up and did then. I will also stand with these people now. Below I have copied the Manifesto. Count me in.

History News Network: "Fighting Back with Constitution and Manifesto"

Judith adds: Now, that is what I call a constructive  idea. Read also the new Manifesto against the new Islamist totalitarianism.

Mensa Barbie: "Totalitarian Global Threat"

Barbie adds: re- Manifesto: I’ve just returned from my trip. I can’t believe how much respect I have for these 12 (below) …I’ll proudly stand beside them. ~MB

Tundra Tabloids…….: "An Anti-Islamism Manifesto…….."

TT adds: Eleven brave intellectuals speak out against the new totalitarian threat……Islamism. KGS

Out on a limb at Mike Lief.com: "Confronting Islamism"

Mike adds: Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that published the cartoons that drove Muslims to murder, has now published a manifesto from prominent writers and intellectuals, avoiding the pusillanimous multi-culti sensitivity of papers like the New York Times, and actually dared to name the enemy at the gates. […] A clarion call to arms. Spread the word.

Jeff Weintraub: "Manifesto: Facing the new totalitarianism"

Republikanisme.nl: "Sammenhold: ‘Together facing the new totalitarianism’"

Villagers With Torches: "We’re your Huckleberries -MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

VWT adds: As tiny as we are… SIGN US UP

All Things Beautiful: "The Manifesto Against The New Islamic Totalitarianism"

ATB adds: Freedom of expression is our western heritage and we must defend it or it will die from totalitarian attacks. It is also much needed in the Islamic world. By defending our values, we are teaching the Islamic world a valuable lesson, we are helping them by submitting their cherished traditions to Enlightenment values.

Eurabian News: "Intelectuales independientes firman un manifiesto contra el islamofascismo"

The Brussels Journal: "Anti-Jihad Manifesto Misses the Point"

Paul adds: In our opinion, man is a religious being. Secularism destroyed the Christian roots of Europe and, in doing so, created the religious vacuum that is now being filled by Islam.

Rantings of a Sandmonkey: "Anti-Islamist Manifesto"

Sandmonkey adds: It’s a courageous step, but one that is long overdue, given that most of those people had Fatwas on their heads for quite a while now. This was bound to happen sooner or later, and it’s a necessary evil so to speak, because it will draw the line and force people to be in one camp or the other, instead of the usual indifference exhibited by the silent muslim majority. It’s very definitive in stating you are either with the extreemists with their fatwas and culture of death, or you are against it. […] Ok, where do I sign up?

Silent Running: "Death before dhimmitude"

SR adds: I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live.

Dennis Hollingsworth: "Manifesto"

The Canadian Sentinel: "Manifesto Against Islam: The Consequence of Fascism, Terrorism and Warmongering"

Sentinel adds: It’s about time. Free human beings everywhere must now proceed to boldly, loudly and openly repeat these declarations. I unequivocally endorse the Manifesto! I invite all who belive in freedom, democracy, the rule of law and the equality of all human beings to join in this historically critical endorsement of the Manifesto!

Scipio the Metalcon: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Scipio adds: Justice can also exist in the market forces of the media. I urge all to cancel their subscriptions and stop buying the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, LA Times, Time magazine, and Newsweek magazine. The people that own and run these newspapers and periodicals need to be punished for their hypocritical cowardice in not showing the cartoons and the fakes, and do this by driving them out of business. They no longer take their role of being members of the press seriously.

Reason: Hit’n'Run: "Manifesto: Facing the new totalitarianism"

Marvin’s Word: "A Manifesto Against Islamism"

Marvin adds: Show Sammenhold! Spread the word far and wide.

Nihil Obstat: "Plantant cara al nou totalitarisme"

The C-Square: "Manifesto Slam Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

NormBlog: "I am a secular human being"

Secundum Christum: "The left enters the war games"

SC adds: The entry will redefine terms, since the term "War on Terror" was meant to explain the right’s action to the left in politically correct terms were at least argueable. The issue appears to have demolished by the Cartoon jihad leaving the left to identify an ideological enemy.

Super Flumina: "Manifesto contra o novo totalitarismo"

Jihad Watch: "Writers protest the new totalitarianism"

JW adds: Although I don’t agree with every detail of this statement, my hat is off to them.

Jugoblog: "Together, facing the new totalitarianism"

Daimnation!: "Add my name"

Mick Hartley: "The Universality of Freedom of Expression"

Cryptic Subterranean: "Declaration"

CS adds: Add me to that list too.

I Lampoon: "Manifesto against Islamic Totalitarianism"

The Last Amazon: "The Manifesto"

Amazon adds: Add me to the list not only because we can but we must.

Itai: "Manifesto"

Toman Bay: "This Is Gonna Be BIG!"

Toman adds: Is it permissible to issue another fatwa against Rushdie? I read somewhere that two death fatwas can invalidate each other!

Dancingguy: "A rejection of totalitarianism"

Maryam Namazie: "Manifesto: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Islamophobic: "Manifesto: ‘Together We Are Facing the new totalitarianism’"

Familienyt: "Salman Rushdie og venner"

Agam’s Gecko: "Anti-Totalitarian Manifesto"

Agam adds: And a reminder to Muslims who may be reading, and for whom "secularism" is taught to be a dirty word: "My religion for me, your religion for you," is the essence of secularism. No compulsion in religion, and it’s all right there in the Qur’an.

bRight & Early: "Speaking Out, Standing Up, Hanging Together"

B&E adds: We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.

Dumb Looks Still Free: "The Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

AJ adds: I sign up to the Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism and for the Rights of Man so that individuals can pursue life, liberty and happiness in the security that others respect those rights.

Das politisch inkorrekte Weblog in Deutschland: "Aufruf gegen islamischen Totalitarismus" (HAS GERMAN TRANSLATION)

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum: "Together, facing the new totalitarianism"

Yourish.com: "Against Islamic totalitarianism"

Meryl adds: Count me in.

eXtrême-centre: "Un appel pour la liberté" (HAS FRENCH TRANSLATION)

The Editors Weblog: "Jyllands Posten reprints manifesto fighting "the new totalitarianism"

QandO: "Manifesto against ‘Islamism’"

QandO adds: Key points: It’s time to call it what it is and quit dancing around the problem. Islamism is a totalitarian ideology to be resisted by all freedom loving people. Islamism does not equal Islam, but is, instead, a totalitarian movement which improperly uses Islam as a basis of its legitimacy (something which must be rejected). Islamism is a reactionary ideology bent on world domination. The end-state would be a totalitarian theocratic regime. And most important, a rejection of a fairly pernicious western disease called ‘moral relativism’, which equates all cultures and ideologices as morally neutral.

Sisu: "An unholy comparison"

Sisu adds: We agree and have posted before about the good works of several of the signers — including two dauntless woman word warriors, former Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali and current Muslim Irshad Manji — but are persuaded by Belien’s argument that the anti-jihad manifesto misses an important point

Classical Values: "I can’t relate to tyranny, because it isn’t a relative thing"

CV adds: Those who believe in identity politics would do well to remember that feminism once condemned Islamist oppression of women in no uncertain terms. No more. Feminism has been forced into submission. A former feminist told me that she expects that gay rights will be next. (Actually, it’s already happening. More here; related story here.) I guess multiculturalist relativism means hanging together separately.

GOP Bloggers: "Moderate Muslims Making a Stand"

GOPB adds: These people need our support and that of the West, which should stop appeasing and excusing the radicals.

Secular Blasphemy: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

SB adds: I’d sign it, too.

Newsbeat1: "A manifesto against the new totalitarianism…….."

Tatterhead: "Manifesto"

Capt. Craig adds: At last! The outspoken have called a spade exactly what it is. Enough of the PC olagenous and saponatious doublespeak. The reign of terror that dare not be named has now been screamed from the minarets of freedom and identified for what it is. Let us see how the so called bastions of freedom in the form of the MSM will handle it. I will do my part.

Pub Philosopher: "Rushdie warns against a ‘new totalitarian threat’"

PP adds: It is great to see a British writer among the signatories,  after the disgraceful cringing of this country’s media and elected representatives in recent weeks.

Ocean Guy: "Spreading the Word"

Thoughts By Seawitch: "A Stand"

Seawitch adds: I add my name to this manifesto. Ayaan Ali and Salmon Rushdie are two well known names who have received death threats and had fatwas issued against them because of words they have written or spoken.

Relapsed Catholic: "Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Bernard-Henri Levy, and Others"

RC adds: Manifestos are such a bad idea. They normally signal a movement in decline before it’s begun, or one too esoteric to gain any popular traction. I’m also a bit suspicious of repeated appeals to "secularism", of the presence of so many "apostates" and, in one instance, someone from Iran’s "Workers-Communist Party". Maybe "suspicious" is the wrong word but I’m still half asleep. Anyway, this is still a stirring call to "arms", and we need all the help we can get.

Sister Toldjah: "Manifesto against Islamic totalitarianism"

Toldjah adds: Their courage is to be admired and saluted. My hat is off to them.

Dissecting Leftism: "Politics, Happiness and Genes"

Jon Jay adds: I guess the media will try to ignore this but a manifesto against Islamofascism has just been signed by some notable campaigners — Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Bernard-Henri Levy etc.

Conservative Culture: "Anti-Jihad Manifesto - Flaws?"

CC adds: Certainly it is a bold document and elements with which I would agree on. However, I appreciate Paul Belien’s (Brussels Journal) approach to the document and what he sees as flaws in the manifesto. Whether you agree or not, bear with the discussion.

Joel Rosenberg: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Jeff the Baptist: "Islamist Totalitarianism"

Jeff adds: I pray that speech will be all that is necessary. But in my heart I fear that stronger and dirtier means may be necessary.

Deborah Gyapong: "This is the manifesto I can sign onto"

Deborah adds: Many of my favorite bloggers, like Gateway Pundit and Dr. Sanity support this Manifesto against Islamofascism. But another, Relapsed Catholic, shares my reservations. And so does Reliapundit, who comments on Dr. Sanity’s site. If I’m going to stand shoulder to shoulder with Europeans, this is the manifesto I have signed onto: […]

Holy Prick Faggot: "Manifesto Against Islamism"

HPR adds: Perhaps we should be encouraging our local papers to print this manifesto and even call on local college professors to sign on.

Lobal Warming: "Facing Neo-Totalitarianism …"

LaurenceJarvikOnline: "Manifesto: Islamism’s Totalitarian Global Threat"

Laurence adds: How come I didn’t see this manifesto in today’s Washington Post? Censorship or self-censorship?

The Retread Ranger Station: "Facing The New Totalitarianism"

Ranger Bob adds: The good guys in the global village get together: from  Jyllands-Posten in Copenhagen to the shores of Gitchee Gummee.

D.C. Thornton: "Taking A Stand Against Islamism"

D.C. adds: The above signatories have seen and experienced the abhorrent effects of Islamism around the world. Their brave stand sends a message to Islamic extremists that enough is enough. I proudly stand in sammenhold with them.

Maritime Liberal: "Why I Support the ‘Manifesto’"

ML adds: Contrary to what many argue, it is not racist or anti-Islamic. The manifesto it self (attached below) attacks Islamism, not Islam. This is the first weakness of this document: it fails to specifically define Islamism this leaving it up to some interpretation. […] This is a well written document and I fully support it.

And Rightly So: "Manifesto"

NoolaBeulah: "Facing the new totalitarianism"

NB adds: Not much to disagree with here. I do wonder about the line "we must assure universal rights to oppressed or discriminated people". If they mean that we must do this in Western countries, that is surely true - it is, in the end, the sine qua non of the defense of our own liberties. But what does it imply for the oppressed of countries whose very regimes are the oppressors? How aggressive must our ‘assurance’ be?

Bloggledygook: "A Manifesto Against Islamism"

BDG adds: Bravo. We shoud all add our names along with these brave defenders of freedom and egalitarianism. Note that his is not a statement against Islam or Muslims, but against the forces that are ammassing against expression and the right of people worldwide to make up their own minds.

Red Hot Cuppa Politics: "Jyllands-Posten Anti-Jihadi Manifesto"

Virtually Shocking: "Anti-Islamist Manifesto"

Middle Earth Journal: "Racheting Up the Holy War"

MEJ adds: If you don’t think that the Right wingnutterati is itching for an open declaration of holy war between the West and Islam, check out Michelle Malkin’s gleeful celebration of "A Manifesto Against Islamism." This short document by a dozen so-called "intellectuals" takes the rhetoric out of the closet and decides to openly declare that the problem isn’t with a number of radical, violent extremists, but with the entire concept of their religion and society.

Spirit of Entebbe: "Together facing the new Totalitarianism"

SoE adds: SoE supports this manifesto, published in today’s edition of Jyllands-Posten (although we do not agree with every single sentence).

Drinking From Home: "Manifesto against totalitarianism"

DFR adds: Damn right. Appeasers, take your "I support freedom of expression BUT…" and shove it.

Tman In Tennessee: "Via Jeff Goldstein at Protein Wisdom: A Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

Tman adds: Because you can’t have one without the other…..sign me up for the firing line if the folks on the following list go down….

Bibelen: "Manifesto: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

The Daily Brief: "A Manifesto Against Religious Totalitarianism"

TDB adds: Sign me up. This war truly is creating strange allies. If you had told me last year that Michelle Malkin was promoting a “manifesto” calling for “secular values for all” I would have asked you what you were smoking.

Moonbat Society: "Here here!"

Pushmedia1: "All right then, a manifesto"

Hillbilly White Trash: "Manifesto Against Islamism"

Anna Lyttiger: "Rushdie: Islamismen er en global trussel"

A Newer World: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Mr Eugenides: "The Jyllands-Posten cartoons: A manifesto against Islamism"

E-Rooster Blog: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

SoDamnCool.Com: "Manifesto Against Islamic Totalitarianism"

SDCC adds: Anyone brave enough to be in the shoes of one of those 12 signatories please stand up.

Exit Zero: "A manifesto published by Jyllands Posten"

EZ adds: I’m in too..

Echo-Actu: "Un manifeste contre le "totalitarisme" religieux"

Pia Causa: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

La Benevolencia del Cervecero: "Manifiesto contra el totalitarismo islámico" (HAS SPANISH TRANSLATION)

Dodgeblogium: "We agree with this Manifesto"

Correspondent in Parijs: "Ayaan Hirsi Ali ondertekent manifest in Charlie Hebdo" (HAS DUTCH TRANSLATION)

The Rule of Reason: "A weak-kneed manifesto against Islam"

ROR adds: This manifesto reads a lot like a liberal attempting to talk tough.

Nadz Online: "About Time, Too"

Nadz adds: This is a great step, but I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. These people are all brave and honest thinkers, but also mostly ones who already have fatwas on them - I just wish that more leaders and prominent thinkers would add their names to the list and make a stand against all forms of tyranny.

Paul From Minneapolis: "“Death before dhimmitude.”"

Paul adds: That’s expressed in a comment below this post, one of hundreds covering the new intellectuals’ Manifesto against Islamism. They’re mostly Muslim intellectuals, or at least semi-Muslim, so that’s good. The Manifesto’s not long yet it’s intellectually complex: there are turns of phrase that could point back at the US, for instance. But essentially, it’s all about declaring where the great enemy of the morally serious is found these days.

Hmmh…: "Answer to Mr. Paul Belien"

Hmmh adds: But, frankly, as far as I can tell, the more religious a society appears - the more violent it is. Maybe this can be proven scientifically? I have no doubt that the creation of secular law has been an essential development in our civilization.

Middle Earth Journal: "The Manifesto Against The New Islamic Christian Totalitarianism"

MEJ adds: I am not a religious person and consider all of the Abramhamic religions to be dangerous nonsense, Islamic, Christian and Jewish. The threat to me here in the United States is not Islam but the wingnuts on the Religious Right. The threat to me here in the United States is not Islamic Mullahs in charge of Iran but five Catholic Mullahs having control of the Supreme court of the United States. Religion, all religion, is by it’s very nature totalitarian when it has political power. That is why the founding fathers, most of whom were Not Christian, insisted upon separation of church and state. They had come to this country to escape the Christian Totalitarianism of Europe. So it’s not Islam that threatens me it’s the equally totalitarian fundamentalist Christians. Keep in mind the source of that totalitarianism is the same in both cases, Abrahamic Law.

Davids Medienkritik: "Together Facing the New Totalitarianism"

David adds: Sign us on!

Daniel in Brookline: "A Muslim Manifesto Against Islamist Extremism"

Daniel adds: Bravo! This sort of thing has been needed for a long time. Let’s hope it gathers speed, momentum, and signatures. […] Now, what will the reaction be from the Muslim world at large?

The Glittering Eye: "The right to be stupid"

TGE adds: My, there’s quite a little flurry of posting about the anti-jihad manifesto published in a French journal and signed by a number of prominent writers, journalists, and intellectuals. It’s not a manifesto I’d sign. Put me down on the same side as The Brussels Journal.

Kipaji: "Manifesto"

Kipaji adds: I’d take slight issue with one or two parts of this, but the gist of the message is dead on. We’re bending over backwards to appease and accomodate Muslims, offering them respect and tolerance when too often they offer none in return, believing themselves to be superior and that all other cultures and societies should kowtow to them. Tolerance of intolerant cultures and people, in the name of political correctness, socialism, multiculturalism or anti-Americanism is no virture; cultural relativism is not enlightment. It’s the sign of a sick society that won’t stand up for itself and assert its *own* values or respect its own rights and freedoms; that exercises double-standards between different faiths or groups, that allows one to (literally) get away with murder while holding another to the most exacting, impossible standards.

The Belmont Club: "Nor knew the force o’ powder"

Belmont adds: The intellectual gauntlet has been flung full in the face of Islamism by an unlikely group which includes Somalian woman, Bangladeshis, exiled Iranians, Lebanese, fugitive British writers of subcontinental origin and an assortment of individuals with a vague left-wing background, none of whom would have been granted admittance to a London gentleman’s club in the 19th century. And their manifesto has been printed, not in the New York Times, Le Monde or the Times of London, but of all places, in a provincial Danish newspaper of no particular fame.

Winds of Change: "Freedom Manifesto"

WoC adds: Orthodoxy is being challenged by a few brave people in Europe — the orthodoxy of political multiculturalism and the orthodoxy of totalitarianism are being challenged. That no government in the West unreservedly supports this simple manifesto of freedom is the sign of our times. I wish these brave men and women — who face death threats for insisting on liberty — the very best success.

Common Folk using Common Sense: "This Needs To Be Read"

CFUCS adds: I, like the Blue Star Chronicles and Stop The ACLU, might have some small differences of opinion with every word of this document. Like Beth I believe that we are in the midst of a clash of civilizations, and that Islamists desire to dominate the world and will destroy the rest of us to do so. But for the most part I stand behind what is said in this document. Islamism is a global threat, akin to Fascism, Nazism, Stalinism, and Communism. The difference here is the absolute joy Islamists derive from killing innocent people - much like the Nazis against the Jews, but this time with a much wider infidel victim pool. This struggle will not be won by arms, but in the ideological field. That said, we must be prepared to use whatever arms are necessary, whenever they are necessary, and without guilt, in order to buy us enough time to work on our ideologies. […] But, fellow bloggers, take these words and put them on your blog. Get this word out. Make the Apologists Media be forced to take notice. And support Denmark.

Cantor: "’SAMMENHOLD’: SOLIDARIETA’ per il MANIFESTO sul JYLLANDS POSTEN" (HAS ITALIAN TRANSLATION)

The Purple Onion: "MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

Purple Onion adds: I also want to add my signature to this manifesto by publishing it here!

Age of Treason: "Opposing Islamic Totalitarianism"

Tanstaafl adds: A fine sentiment that I agree with, but the "ism" hairsplitting is weak. "Nazism" is redundant except as a crutch for citing "Stalinism" rather than "Marxism" or at least "socialism". You’re taking a bold public stand here, don’t be mealy mouthed about the roots of totalitarianism. Consult Hayek. The explicit rejection of "cultural relativism" (tee hee another "ism") is sure to drive some of the misguided traitors in our midst even deeper into the arms of their Islamofacist comrades. It’s long past time to pick sides. You can recognize that cultural relativism is dangerous piffle, or you may as well get sized for your burka now. The enemy has always been the ideology of jihad and Sharia. The rest of Islam is perfectly tolerable. Unfortunately Islam cannot be taken ala carte. The Koran is the infallible word of Allah. His Prophet is the perfect example of a man who waged jihad and imposed Sharia. Reject jihad and you are not a Muslim. Civilized people can fantasize all they want about reforming Islam. The best we can do is stand by our values (like freedom of expression) and help as many people stop drinking the Islamist kool-aid as possible. That will be difficult enough because Muslims are serious, deadly serious, about apostasy.

The Left End of the Dial: "So now we’re presented with a manifesto against ‘Islamism’"

James adds: "You can read it in all its glory at Jyllands Posten, under the title of MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism. The big name among the dozen signatories is Salman Rushdie. My initial take is that there is something bass-ackwards about the assumptions made by the manifesto’s authors. I’m probably not alone. Maybe a start would be to come up with a working definition of "Islamism" - though in doing so we’re likely to find it to be a much more diverse paradigm than the manifesto’s signatories would have us believe. It would also be useful to step back and look at the critique of religion from a historical context. One might be interested to find plenty of secular "liberals" in Europe whose views of the Jews were strikingly similar to the view of Muslims promoted in the anti-Islamist manifest."

The Uncooperative Blogger: "Islamism is the New Totalitarianism"

Brian adds: You are darn right it is! This is the danger of Islam, it is designed to force their religious lifestyle on the world. It is oppressive, and has no use for freedoms. We must fight its spread with every tool at our disposal. In this country we can cut it zero slack when it tries to stifle the voices of opposition in this country. We cannot let them infuse our laws with Sharia law under any guise. We have to tolerate their existence, just like every other religion, but that’s all we have to do. Islam creates a culture, and is designed to run a Nation of people, this we must reject at all costs.

Minipundit: "The 1939 Fetish"

MP adds: Secondly, even if al-Qaeda were driven by some profound ideology, it wouldn’t pose 1% of the threat Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union did. Germany’s and Russia’s army ranks numbered in the millions, and they had a large populace backing them, as well as, in Russia’s case, nukes. They were openly aggressive, and committed numerous genocides. al-Qaeda, on the other hand, is a ragtag team of semi-competent European minorities, numbering in the mere thousands. To see an equivalency here is to be blind.

Windmills on the Hill: "Against the new totalitarianism"

WotH tilts this way: When it came to an informed discussion of the cartoons first published in Jyllands-Posten the Western media largely declined to publish or even accurately describe the cartoons. In the words of Globe & Mail publisher Edward Greenspon the cartoons were "gratuitous and unnecessarily provocative", a characterization which was transparently false to anyone who had actually taken the time to view them(some of them may be but not all of them). By characterizing all of the cartoons in such a manner the Globe & Mail and other media outlets have not only prevented an informed debate about the issue of censorship they have contributed to that censorship. For the only people being provoked in this case were those who threatened violence over the cartoons in the first place.

Gypsy Scholar: "Manifesto: Together facing the new totalitarianism"

GS adds: In my view, however, if we agree that we should curtail our free expression to avoid giving ‘offense to Islam,’ then we are rejecting one of our most important traditions and effectively submitting ourselves as dhimmis to Islamic sharia. I consider that submission a grave error. I prefer to stand with Rushdie and the eleven others. I urge others to do so as well.

Translater’s note: It’s a bit ironic that in a debate where we Danes have been accused of being Neo-nazis, the one man we can all agree on loving is… brown. It says something about the powers of observation of our enemies that they have failed to notice this pertinent little fact.

Update: This post was originally titled "A Prize Sandnigger", since that was the most direct translation I could think of from the Danish "En Præmiperker", but I understand that Sandnigger is in fact a bit more offensive in English than Perker is in Danish, so I have retitled it "A Prize Immigrant" and changed the references in the story accordingly.

Jyllands-Posten, February 19, 2006

A Prize Immigrant

By Orla Borg

Naser Khader has a vision: Islam must be reformed. His network of Democratic Moslems is going to help him make Islam make a leap of centuries in just a few years. The backing the network has received so far has been overwhelming. In just a few weeks Naser Khader has come to personify all Danish hopes of a better future with peaceful coexistence and integration. But who is he, what makes him tick, and what does he want?

It meant a lot for Tattoo-Liz in Fiolstræde in Copenhagen to make the tattoo perfect that Wednesday in August of last year.

She had spent hours finding the perfect arabic fonts on the library and she intended to use the finest calligraphy could offer.

Now the word was there, shiny and clear on the biceps and the customer was overjoyed.

Because now his body had on it the word that was also engraved on his soul: DEMOCRACY.

Some of his colleagues on Christiansborg were slightly amused when they heard. Wasn’t it a bit emotional to have that word tattooed to his biceps?

He didn’t care. They were lucky, they were born with it - democracy.

He wasn’t.

He was born in Syria.

Naser Khader still clearly remembers his father instructing the children not to repeat the words that were spoken at home.

Everybody knew that some of the 25 pupils in his class had parents working for one of that country’s seven security services, all directly controlled by the dictatorial president, Hafez Assad.

So even if his father called the President a "fool" and worse at home, he knew that it was never to be spoken elsewhere. Because there was no democracy and no freedom of speech.

Naser, the oldest of five siblings, proved himself a gifted scholar. He did well in school and impressed people in the mosque.

The boy often went to the mosque with his grandfather, who was the second-most important man in the mosque outside Damascus, after the Imam.

It impressed the men at the mosque that Naser rapidly learned whole sections of the Quran by heart. He attended the Friday prayers, went to the Quran-school, prayed five times a day and fasted all through the month of Ramadan.

The Great Upheaval

Naser thrived with Islam. He was therefore also overwhelmed by sorrow when he was told at only 11 years of age the family would uproot and be transplanted to a strange country in Europe.

The father, who was a Palestinian with roots in Nablus in the West Bank, felt watched by the Syrian authorities and went to Denmark where the family was granted asylum.

Suddenly the 11 year old Naser found himself living in Istedgade in the Vesterbro quarter of Copenhagen in an apartment in a public housing project, wedged between porn shops and prostitutes.

The family survived the transplant. A few years after immigrating to Denmark, the father had started his own business, a grocery store on Nørrebrogade and the children were doing well at The Oehlenschlägergade School.

Naser was again primed for life. He quickly advanced to become one of the brightest pupils of his class, a success achived through many hours of studying. Almost too many hours, his friend Ahmed from Egypt thought. The boys learned to use the public playgrounds of Nørrebrogade where they played football till dusk.

The spiritual base for the family was still Friday prayers at the mosque of The Islamic Community.

The New Imam

One day the father told Naser that a new Imam had come to the mosque. Some of the fathers’ friends had fetched him to Denmark from Nigeria, a place he had come to after being expelled from Kuwait.

The name of that Imam was Abu Laban.

Naser went to Friday prayers and listened to the Imam who preached with such intensity that not a man in the abandoned warehouse wasn’t moved.

But as Naser entered his teenage years, a change came over his way of perceiving at the world. He would sit for hours reading Danish litterature, learning how Danish society had evolved through the ages to finally reach the stage of modern democracy. He came to look at the equal rights between the sexes with a growing admiration, although it was very different from what he knew from his childhood.

And when the teachers at his school recommended his parents that he be allowed to go to community college, it lead to his own personal battle of cultures.

Especially when he was introduced to the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who said: "God is Dead", and the Danish Kierkegaard with his "Either, Or" of the the duty of each single man to choose his own way in life, Naser decided: He would no longer practice Islam.

For him the religion was no longer compatable with the values he now held the dearest: first and foremost the will to democracy and the independent relation of each man to his duties and his responsibilities.

He moved away from home when he was still in college.

The family had moved to the Noth-Western quarter of Copenhagen and Naser found an apartment nearby. That also gave him the space to be with his Danish girlfriend.

A Passion for Democracy

His parent weren’t pleased when he moved. And they didn’t become elated when he didn’t follow their wish for him to become either a doctor or an engineer after he graduated.

Instead he chose to study his passion; the rules of democracy. He was accepted to the polit-education at Copenhagen University.

His feeling of being Danish and belonging in the Danish frame of mind was constantly strengthened by reading great Danish authors and philosophers such as Hal Koch, N.F.S. Grundtvig and Georg Brandes.

And while his passion for Danish democracy grew stronger, Naser was constantly reminded that he was from a part of the world where democracy did not exist.

For many years he was an interpreter at a number of treatment centres for victims of torture, where he listened to one horror story after the other of the way dictatorial regimes will persecute people who don’t agree.

After interviews, he more than once experienced the need to go to the toilet and vomit.

He also began to function as an interpreter in situations where it became clear to him that the Danish case workers, social advisors, teachers, pedagogues, policemen, to name a few, where talking to immigrants of whose situation they knew nothing. He was especially struck by the fact that most Danes’ knowledge of Islam was almost non-existant.

Therefore Khader published the book "Honour and Shame" in 1996. Here he tried to give an introduction to the central tenets of Mid-Eastern culture which were based partially on ancient culture and partially on Islam.

The book became a bestseller in Denmark. Here was finally an immigrant able to explain the way things were, the people working with immigrants were saying.

Shamed at Friday prayers

But in The Islamic Community, Imam Abu Laban railed against this Naser Khader who was daring enough to write a book about Islam without consulting an Imam!

The wrath of Abu Laban was so great the Naser Khader’s father was devastated. He faithfully came to prayer every Friday and he was hurt to hear his son reviled in front of all the member of the community.

He therefore decided to arrange a meeting to reconciliate Khader and Laban.

Accounts of the meeting differ, but it was clear that Abu Laban did not accept Khader’s book.

That proved not to be the last confrontation the two had.

Now, having put aside Islam, Naser Khader began to call himself a "Cultural Moslem". He acknowledged his cultural heritage, but only practiced it to the degree that he would participate in prayers at funerals.

At the same time his political career began. He was elected to the Citizens’ Council of Copenhagen for the Radical Party. But he knew that his goal was to enter the legislature of the democracy to which he had turned when religion failed him. He wanted to be elected to Folketinget.

Nasra and Nidal

A special night - a week before the election of 2001 - Naser Khader did something that removed any doubt as to whether he would be elected.

He appeared on prime time in the TV-Avisen news program, clad in a light blue denim shirt, his face covered in sweat from running to a studio in Amman in Jordan to appear on live TV to tell the story that was on everybody’s lips those days. The story of the two immigrant children Nasra and Nidal, who had first been removed from their Jordanian parents’ home in Denmark, the parents being charged with willfull neglect, only to - due to a colossal screwup by the local administration - be sent home to their parents who had sent the children on to Jordan where they lived in squalor.

All of Denmark was incensed by the matter and many were moved by the young, dark-haired politician from the Radicals who intervened on behalf of the children.

Naser Khader was the first immigrant ever to be directly elected to Folketinget.

A small step for Denmark, a huge leap for Naser Khader.

It was considered right up his alley to appoint him spokesman on immigration, but he didn’t want to branded an immigrant politician, so he has been spokesman for the Radicals on health, culture, equal rights, ethics and development.

Though he couldn’t keep away from - or be kept away from, for that matter - immigration policy.

Soon he was both revered and reviled.

To many Danes, he was the essence of the form of integration the majority of Danes would like to see - close to assimilation - since he closely resembled us. He wasn’t against having a pint now and then, either. One of his friends considers him a man of good intentions: He has become "A Prize Immigrant".

Traditions Must Be Challenged

Some Moslems consider Naser Khader an apostate - a person who has left the faith of Islam and who has even criticised it in public. That has led to several threats on his life.

Those were the lines on the battlefield when the (in)famous Muhammed cartoons were published in Jyllands-Posten September 30, last year.

At first Khader didn’t react at all.

He found a few of the cartoons to be rather distasteful, though most were funny. Apart from the first, he saw the cartoons as an act of necessary cultural radicalism - necessary to challenge the dogmas of religion.

But then things took a turn. 3000 Moslems demonstrated in the streets of Copenhagen. Khader knew many of them. A delegation of Imams went to the Middle East to plead for help from Moslem leaders and heads of state. He knew most of them too. The first place the Danish flag was put on fire was in Nablus in the West Bank - his father’s place of birth.

The first place they torched a Danish embassy was in Damascus in Syria - the city he left for Denmark when he was a child.

And the first to issue death threats were Palestinians - the People of his family.

The violent reactions abroad led to suspicions against a certain group in Denmark - the Moslems.

They were apparently the ones who wouldn’t have any freedom of speech in Denmark and rallied the masses and the governments of the Middle East against Denmark.

And the obvious symbol of the Moslems was easy to find - it was clearly the Imams, the ones who acted as the only conduit for Moslems to the general society in Denmark.

Khader faces Laban

It was then Naser Khader decided. He had to stand up to the Imams.

In his view, the Imams don’t represent the Moslems of Denmark at all. They may speak for a few thousand, but there are 200000 Moslems in Denmark.

He decided to form the Democratic Moslems to show that the majority of Moslems in Denmark want democracy. Inevitably this would have to lead to a showdown, a showdown with his Arch Enemy.

Khader versus Laban.

This has so far lead to Laban calling Khader "a rat" at Friday prayers.

Khader believes so much in his initiative that he has decided it would be beneath him to respond.

After two weeks 800 Moslems have joined and 5000 ethnic Danes have joined a financial support group. A bank has donated 100000 DKK for rooms and entrepeneurs and businessmen are lining up to support the Democratic Moslems. Last week they were warmly welcomed by PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen in his official residence at Marienborg.

Countless letters to the editors mention one word over and over again when they speak of him and his initiative: HOPE.

After weeks of nothing but negative news of Denmark and the Danes, Khader has lit the flame of hope. As he did for a 72-year old pensioner from Silkeborg who pledged 500 DKK to the Democratic Moslems because it has relit in him the fire of hope.

A Life of Threats

Privately, Khader pays daily. He has received several death threats, mostly from people he consider Islamists.

His wife, Bente Dalsbæk, who used to work as the top judicial advisor to the Chairman of Folketinget, says that she will be there for him always and urges him to go on in spite of the threats.

The pair met at Culture Night 2003 on Christiansborg. "Multicultural Night" is what they jokingly have named it. They each had a child of five and six respectively and have a son of a year and a half together.

Naser Khader is followed by two Security Agents when he arrives in a dark blue Peugeot 605 on loan from the Intelligence Service of the Police for our meeting in central Copenhagen.

He has just spent an hour in a fitness-center but grabs an apple and a cup of tea and sits, relaxed as ever.

Why form this network? You’re risking your life, after all…

"For me it’s about identity and existence and life and death. I see the fundamentalist ‘cerebral haemorrhage’ close in around me. I have people I know who sympathize with Bin Laden, people who start sending their children to Quran-schools, who sympathize with the regime in Iran - and that is my reason for intervening. I think that what is going on at present is the most important battle for values Denmark has ever fought. To stay on the sidelines would mean giving up my identity."

Publicans and Imams

What is your vision for the future?

"My modest hopes are to create the determining factors needed to create a reformation and enlightenment for Islam. That may sound ambitious. But the people who are needed to create the conditions needed for that are us - the Moslems of the West. My ambitions are - apart from making integration less painful - to show that Islam and democracy can be made to be compatable. If the Moslems of the West can not reform Islam, nobody can.

And I have contacted Moslem democrats in Great Britain and th United States, so I think we are getting there."

Whose fight are you fighting?

"I think I am fighting my mother’s fight. She’s a Moslem, religious, who prays five times a day and wears a scarf. But she believes in Danish democracy. In that way she is a lot like many of my friends - Moslems with their hearts, but not Islamists or Extremists. I feel I am fighting a fight for the majority of Moslems. Islam was once a religion which was about the personal relationship of man to Allah. But some Imams have intervened, like the publicans of the Bible and have taken for themselves the power of Allah."

The words are part of a torrent, filled with self-confidence and energy.

Right now, the wind is at his back.

But his friend Ahmed, who he has known since school, warns:

"He must be careful not to create a rift between Moslems. I would like it if he and Abu Laban could reconcile."

Nothing in Naser’s manner suggests that is something he is willing to do.

On the contrary.

The rift has been made.

Moslems in Denmark now have two spokesmen.

The question will be whether the reformists or the traditionalists prove to be stronger.

Berlingske, February 14, 2006

Naser Khader and the rest of the Radicals

By Ole Birk Olesen

85 percent of all Danes think that Naser Khader has handled the cartoon issue well. So why hasn’t the Radicals made him their front man on matters of non-natives, is the question asked within the party.

NEWS ANALYSIS

If there is such a thing as losers and winners in the cartoon issue, the Radical MP Naser Khader definitely qualifies as a winner. According to a survey published by B.T. five days ago, 85 percent of all Danes think that Khader has handled the cartoon issue "well" or "very well".

That’s an unusually high number and certainly not something usual for the Radicals in issues of this kind. The Party received a lot of support for their principled stance on naturalisation, but not from a broad base of the population. Here the Radicals have been seen as too soft.

But Naser Khaders line in the sand in the on the cartoon issue has been a hit with the voters. He has taken a firm stance against the traveling Imams and for the right to say satirical and critical things about Islam. And he has founded "Democractic Moslems" with the express goal of challenging the Imams as first spokesman for the 200000 Moslems in Denmark.

Because of that the Radical MEP Anders Samuelsen yesterday was quoted by Jyllands-Posten as saying that he hopes "that when people wake up in the morning and think of Radical naturalisation policies, Naser Khader is the name that springs to mind." Not only is that a hope, it is also a cloaked suggestion to his colleagues in Parliament to let Khader lead when the Radicals make and present their naturalisation policies, a task currently assignes to MP Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen.

Anders Samuelsen is like Naser Khader hawkish on naturalisation policies. The hawks aren’t much different from the doves except on matters of rhetoric and will to negotiate. Leader of the Radical MPs Marianne Jelved has so far been unyielding in her terms of negotiation whereas Khader and Samuelsen and the Helveg family would rather negotiate and influence events.

Naser Khader: "I would rather seek to gain influence than bark at those who do."

The reason for the dovish policies so far has been that it has Marketed the Radicals as the main opposition to the government’s naturalisation policies and they think that this is why the Radicals nearly doubled their mandates in the last election.

But, it does seem difficult to imagine where the government and the Radicals might find some common ground on naturalisation. Neither Khader, Samuelsen or the Helveg family or any other of the party’s pragmatics have gone on record as being willing to swallow either of the twin camels - the 24 year rule and the "most attached country" rule which are the cornerstones of current Danish naturalisation policy. So how would the twain ever be able to meet?  Is the question being asked.

This doesn’t change that Naser Khader is considered a boon by the whole party these days. Marianne Jelved yesterday in an open letter said "It is you, Naser, who will become the example of a new age of peaceful coexistence in a multicultural world building on democratic principles. You are the man. Thank you for your personal effort."

This spring the Radicals are set to launch a new advertising campaign inspired by DPPs "Fresh wind blowing" campaign. That might be the first opportunity for the Radicals to show how much they like Naser Khader and how the party is planning to use his personal popularity to generate popularity for the Radicals.

Jyllands-Posten, Februrary 11, 2006

Khader rejoinds against Abu Laban

It borders on urging people to violence when people are called rats. So thinks member of The Radical party in Denmark Naser Khader who is the point man in the newly establish network ‘Democratic Moslems’.

He wants the Minister of Religion, Bertel Haarder (Liberals), to take a look at Imam Abu Labans latest statement during Friday prayer in the mosque on Dortheavej in the Nort-West quarter of Copenhagen.

Actually, I don’t really want to fight this out in the courts. But I have contacted the Minister for Religion and asked him if it will have any consequences for the Community of Islam says Naser Khader

Abu Laban at an earlier date called Khader a "third rate politician" and during this Fridays prayers he labeled the Radical MP and Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali "rats in a hole".

Understanding from the Social Democrats

The Social Democratic MPs understand Khader turning to the Minister.

The last marbles are gone when Abu Laban encourages understanding and dialogue while labelling moderate Moslems "rats" who have caused this crisis. You don’t have a lot of credibility left once you’ve done that, says John Dyrby, spokesman on naturalisation for the Social Democrats.