Agora

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.
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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…)

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.
(more…)

BREAKING NEWS
This just in. One down. One being tackled as we speak. Imam Abu Laban of pig-eared fame apparently knew about a planned “Martyr action” on February 21st. Quoting from my transcript of previously unreleased footage from Mohammed Sifaoui, the journalist who broke the news of Imam Ahmed Akkari’s death threats against Naser Khader. Imam Abu Laban is speaking of a man who plans to execute a martyr operation in connection with the Battle of Khartoon:

{He’s doing everything to get contacts.}
{He’s contacted Amr Moussa and he means to wreak absolute havoc.}
{He wants to join the fray and turn it into a Martyr operation right now.}

Screenshot of Imam Abu Laban before entering the car where he spoke the words that already now spell the doom of his career as a spokesman for Moslems and a citizen of Denmark.

Danish Politicians are shocked.

Marianne Jelved of the Social Liberals:

I find it very unpleasant. Very unpleasant indeed. And I think that Abu Laban, if he wishes to remain in Denmark, ought to consider the rules here.

Helge Adam Møller of the Conservatives:

With 99 percent certainty it’s an act of terrorism to which we are referring. Because a martyr operation is to blow oneself and innocents sky high. Whether it’s in Denmark or someplace else, it’s equally serious. It’s innocents who are killed. He apparently knows something about that. If he hasn’t himself gone to the police, he incurs a colossal responsibility and he is in direct breach of Danish law.
[…]
With 99 percent certainty it’s an act of terrorism to which we are referring. Because a martyr operation is to blow oneself and innocents sky high. Whether it’s in Denmark or someplace else, it’s equally serious. It’s innocents who are killed. He apparently knows something about that. If he hasn’t himself gone to the police, he incurs a colossal responsibility and he is in direct breach of Danish law.

Pia Kjærsgaard of the Danish People’s Party:

I have come to think that all of these more or less festering persons from the Islamic Faith Community should be interrogated, all of them, by the police naturally, and that this matter must be thoroughly investigated because it sounds very scary. And that isn’t something we as politicians should let pass by. Therefore I will talk to the Justice Minister and inquire as to the reaction to this and get her to step in.

Direct link to News footage which is transcribed and translated below. Link to article that describes the news clip.

Note: I plan to post updates below this and just push the transcript lower and lower.
UPDATE 1 MARCH 25 00:52 CET
Photographs of Abu Laban:
Abu Laban at home
Abu Laban preaching. Subtitles say: “These people I call rats in holes.” From this article. The ‘rats’ are Naser Khader and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Abu Laban looking smug at a press conference
Abu Laban captured by Mohammed Sifaoui’s hidden camera at home
Abu Laban preaching again. Pointy fingers.

UPDATE 2 MARCH 25 01:07 CET
Gateway Pundit reminds me of his dossier on Abu Laban. Excerpts:

Entertained the “Blind Sheikh” behind the first World Trade Center attacks

Praised Osama Bin Laden after 9-11 Attacks

Preached he “Shed no tears” after 9-11 Attacks

Accused of giving Political support to Osama bin Laden’s network

Accused of giving Financial support to Osama bin Laden’s network

Joined with 225 Islamic Radicals to form Global Jihadist Group in 2003

Said that Theo van Gogh - “Had it coming!”

Called on his flock to Give Their Lives to Global Jihad for Palestinians

Met with Sheikh Qaradawi in Saudi Arabia who has legalized the murder of American soldiers in Iraq

Much more at Gateway Pundit

UPDATE 3 MARCH 25 01:42 CET
Killgore Trout remarks at LGF that he’s still a little unclear about what the quote means. Mohammed Sifaoui explains (from the transcript):

{I didn’t use that piece in my documentary because we assesed -}
{- that we didn’t have enough details to know of whom he was talking -}
{- and whether the operation was to take place in Denmark or somewhere else.}
{But I am convinced that he was speaking of someone -}
{- who was ready to execute a suicide operation.}

Amr Moussa is the Chairman of the Arab League.

—————–
Transcript of DR news programme where Abu Laban talks about his terror ties.

Everything in [] is to describe the general environment of the transcript.
Everything in {} mean I’m translating from the subtitles. Each pair of {}s is a full translation of each subtitle.

[In news studio]

NEWS ANCHOR: Good evening, this is the late TV-Avisen, which will also take a look at this evening’s EU meeting in Brussels.
First, new accusations by the French TV journalist who infiltrated the Danish Imam environment. One of hisrecordings with a hidden camera reveals that Imam Abu Laban speaks of a person who, quoting: “Wants to wreak absolute havoc and conduct a Martyr-operation.” Danish Police plans to question Imam Abu Laban about that as soon as he return from a conference of Imams in Bahrain.

[cut to recording of Danish Imams. Imam Abu Laban in picture.]
(more…)

Note: This first part is just a summary of the article attached to this post. When updates come in, I plan to add them and link to the original articles. The original article is nice to have for reference.

Imam Ahmed Akkari has issued death threats against Naser Khader of the Social Liberals. Naser Khader founded the organisation “Democratic Moslems” in February, as an organisation for moderate, Democracy-minded Moslems to join. See this article for biography and background on the enmity between Naser Khader and the Imams in Denmark.

Today Jyllands-Posten reports that Imam Ahmed Akkari was recorded on a hidden camera by journalist Mohamed Sifaoui of the French TV-Station France 2 which will show a documentary tonight detailing the doings of the Danish Imams. The documentary also reveals that the Danish Imams have been using the affair as a lever to go against their political opponents in Denmark.
Ahmed Akkari is quoted as saying:

If [Naser Khader] becomes the Minister of Foreigners or Integration, why don’t we send out two guys to blow up him and his ministry?

The Danish reaction to this has been consternation and revulsion.
Peter Skaarup of the Danish People’s Party:

It’s pure threats and it only goes to show how crazy these Imams have been acting. I will at once ask the Minister what punishment can be given for making such statements and whether it is a punishable offense,

Jens Rohde of the Liberals:

This is certainly very disturbing and it shows what we’re up against. That’s also why I am worried about what is happening at that conference in Bahrain which Ahmed Akkari is a delegate to

Ahmed Akkari denies:

I’ve never said anything like that about Naser Khader, but they are welcome to try and prove it

UPDATE 1
Politiken reports that Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen of the Social Liberals has reported Imam Ahmed Akkari to the police:

The police must investigate whether the French documentary checks out and whether things are as Jyllands-Posten says. If they are, that statement deserves the harshest condemnations.
[…]
I feel very sorry for my colleague and his family . It’s absolutely horrible that he has to live with threats of murder and must be guarded by the police.

The police say that an inquiry is under way:

From what we know so far, it is relevant to start an inquiry.
[…]
[whether it is punishable] depends on under what circumstances the statement was made. And whether they create real fear and discomfort. The fact that the threats are now being quoted in the media is also relevant.

The police in Berlingske Tidende:

We’re investigating whether there is grounds for prosecuting him for these threats. We need to find out what kind of documentation the journalists have and we need to talk with the persons involved.

Ahmed Akkari now calls it a “joke”:

If they think I have said that, then I must have been jesting.
[…]
You also need to understand, from the context, that I wasn’t being serious because I usually don’t say stuff like that - not even in jest. But sometimes things happen.

This blog would like to remind Ahmed Akkari of the time he beat a little boy till he bled. Was that just “one of those times”?

UPDATE 2
Naser Khader has recovered enough to give a statement to the news agency Ritzau. Ritzaus reports that he is still shaken by the statement but wants to see the documentary and hear what is said in Arabic before he issues a statement.

But this is in any case still very, very discomforting.

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has issued a statement:

I only know of the case from the media. But if things are the way they seem, I find reason to express horror that anyone could seriously consider saying that. It’s quite shocking shocking that an elected Danish politician is threatened like that. I assume the police will investigate what’s what in this case and then I count on them to deal with it.

The Vice President of Democratic Moslems, Fathi el-Abed says:

Words are powerful - we learned that from this crisis. I think it’s childish, shocking and reprehensible that he says something and then takes it back because the public gets wind of it.

This is the latest from the police. Per Larsen, Chief Inspector:

This seems to be serious. If the words that have been reported to have been said were said, this is a case of Threats on a Person’s Life. This needs to be thoroughly investigated.
[…]
With the reservation that we must know how the threats were made, it sounds like we might want to interrogate the people who are on their way home from Bahrain.

UPDATE 3
From the ten o’clock TV2 news programme.
Ahmed Akkari by telephone from Bahrain:

If I said that, I think the cirumstances must have been not very serious and only in jest ehh… and I of course clearly distance myself from any thing of this kind and also assure Naser that it isn’t anything I can vouch for.

Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller:

What I’ve seen from the newspapers doesn’t look very nice at all. And if he was joking, he’s got a very bad sense of humour.

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen:

I think that, in any case - even if one is only toying with the thought of terrorist attacks against elected representatives - it is a gravely serious matter, which one must distance oneself from to the greatest degree. Apart from that, I assume as a matter of course that the Police will make inquiries into this matter.

Peter Lautrup Larsen, TV2’s Resident Political Expert:

Of course [Ahmed Akkari’s remarks] have been noticed. That the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister feel that they must comment on this, shows that it is something the politicians view very gravely. Even if Ahmed Akkari says it’s just a joke. As the Foreign Minister said; it’s a very bad joke indeed then.

Peter Lautrup Larsen also says that the Prime Minister said off-camera that it’s funny how it’s seemingly okay to joke about something in one context [Ahmed Akkari’s remarks] and not in another context [the Muhammed Cartoons].

UPDATE 4
Hat tip: Uriasposten
The programme will be sent tonight 8.50 on France 2 in the series of programmes known as Envoye-Special (Trans: Special Correspondents). Link to the introduction to the programme here.
Translated:

Caricatures: Beneath the Anger
A report by Mohammed Sifaoui

Following the publication of the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammed, the Moslem world ignited. Ransacked embassies, flag burnings and confrontations between police force and demonstrators caused the death of thirty people.

Following the violent reactions in many countries, several Danish newspapers spoke about manipulation. That is what a team of Special Correspondents wanted to investigate in Denmark.

At the source of the extensive media coverage in the Arab Muslim world: a group of imams. They’re Danish and it is they who gave international significance to what was at the beginning only a simple matter of the press.

The investigation very quickly will show that these Imams are actually islamists. They use the matter of the caricatures to settle a score with Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper which published the drawings. This daily newspaper on several occasions had criticized the goals and activities of these imams. To ignite the Islamic world, these clerics prepared and disseminated to a wide audience a file with accusations against Denmark which didn’t contain only the famous caricatures of Muhammed. It is this file which was sent with the assistance of certain ambassadors to the Moslem authorities of several Arab countries. The imams admit adding these vulgar photographs and insulting drawings which have no relation to the caricatures.

The journalists of the Envoye-Special gained the confidence of some of these imams. These “clerics” do not hide their views. They regard secular people as “enemies” and try to promote a radical Islam.

A report about Mohammed Sifaoui: Journalist penetrated Islamic extremist groups in Paris

UPDATE 5
Berlingske Tidende have been quick to get their correspondent in Paris on the case and have an interview with Mohamed Sifaoui here. Note that Ahmed Akkari is of Lebanese origins.
Translated the good bits:

Are the quotes by Jyllands-Posten correct?
They are entirely correct(…) He said it in Arabic and I had three different persons translate it. I speak Arabic myself, but to exercise due dilligence, I also had it translated by some Lebanese people to be sure.
Ahmed Akkari denies that he has ever been in a car with Sheikh Raed Hlayhel and a French journalist?
I think that the best answer is that you see him for yourself in the car with me filming him with a hidden camera.
In your opinion, was he serious when he said he would blow up Naser Khader?
I don’t know.
Did you ask if he was serious?
I didn’t ask. I didn’t even react. I was there as an observer, I didn’t want to react. I looked out the window while filming and pretended not to follow their conversation. I didn’t want to interrupt their conversation. Since they were talking, I was filming.
It was Akkari and Hlayhel who were talking?
Yes, I pretended not to be there. I didn’t encourage them with questions, nothing at all. I said nothing. I got into the car, they started talking and I was filming. I didn’t ask any questions at all.
How did you gain the trust of the Imams?
I won the trust of Abu Laban first and foremost… (…) Abu Laban was in the other car. He was being filmed by my colleague.

UPDATE 6
Screenshots from the documentary:
Abu Zakaria talking with Mohamed Sifaoui
Ahmed Akkari in the car
Sheikh Raed Hlayhel

Ahmed Akkari has issued a public apology. It’s funny that he has to defend himself with the words that were used to defend the cartoons. Funny in a hilarious way. Really hilarious. “In Denmark there is a tradition for humour, irony, sarcasm and jests…” I don’t believe him, by the way.
Translated from TV2:

No threat to Naser Khader
I have learned that a recording made with a hidden camera has caused much debate in the media in Denmark.

The recording was of a group of people talking and having a good time. The mood was loose and free, and jokes were made. In this mood and spirit I said what has now been understood as a threat against Naser Khader.

I would like to emphasise that my remark carried no serious intent and that Naser Khader of course need not feel threatened by me. It was said in jest only and looking back I see that it may have been a bit out of place and too rough on the edges.

In Denmark there is a tradition for humour, sarcasm, irony and jests and I have often heard jests of an equally jestful nature from many different parties. Not just Moslems.

Both I and other Moslems in Denmark have have always had the position on Naser Khader and his political career that when we feel we must oppose him we do so, but only with words. Unfortunately a cheerful mood can sometimes escalate and I deeply regret that this statement, which was made in jest only, has been taken seriously.

Who only sees jest as jest

And the serious as only serious…

The last part is part of a gruk (kind of a saying) by Piet Hein, which goes so in Danish: “Den som kun tager spøg for spøg, og alvor kun alvorligt, han og hun har faktisk fattet begge dele dårligt”
Translated: “Who only sees jest as jest, and the serious as only serious, he and she has understood both things poorly.”

So which is it? Jest or serious?

When we’re talking about people who supported the September 11 attacks, it is hard for mere mortals to tell the difference.

UPDATE 7
DR.DK has brought a list of statements by politicians about this case. Some of them are new.

Spokesman on Immigrant Politics, Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen, Social Liberals:

Murder threats are not somthing to jest about and particularly not in the current situation. I can’t distance myself enough from those statements. Some things seem to indicate that he is a criminal or in any case insane.

Chairman of Conservatives’ parliament group, Helge Adam Møller:

We have long known that Ahmed Akkari speaks with a forked tongue, but that one of its forks is so poisonous is, after all, a surprise to me.

Coming up in next update: Translation of an article which describes the documentary.

UPDATE 8
Sorry, didn’t get that translation done. This interview came up. From Denmark’s Radio. Link.

Interviewer: Akkari, I would like to begin this with reading to you a quote: “If he becomes the Minister of Foreigners or Integration, why don’t we send out two guys to blow up him and his ministry?” who spoke those words?

Akkari: I don’t recall saying anything either in jest or in earnest. If it happened, it is regrettable and a very crude jest, which I immediately and at once want to express my regrets for and distance myself from.

Interviewer: What is it you find jesting about those words?

Akkari: Perhaps there isn’t anything funny about them. It’s more sarcastic and out of proportions in a light-hearted context… And it’s very unfortunate that something like that is taken seriously because there’s no intent there, at all.

Interviewer: But what might make you - in jest - threaten to murder a prominent Danish politician?

Akkari: Our tongues can, all of us, run to the right or to the left and I think that’s what happened in very simple circumstances where there’s been a slightly humourous situation… and talked a bit to the right or to the left about something funny.

Interviewer: Do we agree that it is serious to threaten a Danish politician with murder?

Akkari: I will write him a letter to insure him that it wasn’t the intent at all… and that I have eh… never wished nor do I wish… I take strong exception to anyone who would plan or think of something like that… Whether it’s in jest or in earnest, it’s totally reprehensible.

Interviewer: What’s your comment on having been reported to the police?

Akkari: Eeehh… I don’t think that anything… comes from that because it’s something that’s totally unserious and something that’s… I take exception to in the most direct way and I also assure Naser that it isn’t something he was meant by.

Interviewer: But if you’re saying that you’ve acted in an irresponsible manner here, how do you imagine Danish Moslems and the Danish population in general respecting you and taking you serious in the future as spokesman for Moslems in Denmark?

Akkari: One thing is what one usually says, another thing is that… anyone can err - we are human, have that as something we were built with that that error may happen so people will have to judge by the whole and not by such a single, unique rather unconcentrated situation in a car where there’s a lot of loose talk.

Interviewer: The last couple of days, I have several times asked you whether you could give me any guarantees that what you’re saying in front of the camera is the same as you’re saying in the nooks while talking to your Moslem brothers. What do you think of the fact that you, time upon time, have told me that you could guarentee that - you weren’t one to talk with a forked tongue, that you’re reliable, that you have but one message: Peace and reconciliation?

Akkari: Eeeh… All people joke about certain things eeeehh… which they usually don’t support… eeeh… or normally say - express that that is their position. I think that’s what happened - there’s come a serious, crude joke which is no more. I have rejected it and taken clear exception to it. It’s nothing I in any way have any intent of doing.

Interviewer: Do you think you can continue on as spokesman for the Islamic Faith Community of Denmark?

Akkari: I think the line is clear and there’s nothing to mix up with this. So.. eh, yes I don’t see that it’s a problem, what’s happened.

Interviewer: But isn’t it hard to have a serious, respected spokesman who goes around and, in jest, threatens to murder Danish politicians?

Akkari: No, because I have threatened to kill nobody and this has been a completely unacceptable situation.

Interviewer: But how do you explain that it happens, that you’re sitting in the company of another Imam and an undercover journalist crack that kind of joke. What makes you crack such a joke?

Akkari: I think it’s been a rather light-hearted situation where people have been talking right and left, and then one can sometimes overdo it in describing a catastrophe, or a problem. So I think that’s all that’s been the meaning of that.

Interviewer: Will there, in the future, be uncovered other quotes where you maybe have threatened other Danish politicians or said anything else, that might contravene your official position of peace and reconciliation?

Akkari: I think that all my official an unofficial positions are of the same cloth, but both you and everybody else can sometimes say and use some words which they normally don’t.. approve of or really mean in conditions of light-heartedness and… I don’t drink [alcohol] but others do and the things one say when there’s a light-hearted mood, that is what happens.

Interviewer: But have you made other, similar, remarks where you’ve threatened to kill other Danish politicians or doing something similarly radical?

Akkari: I couldn’t even remember the reference to that, before you mention it, so I don’t think I have said it, and if I have said that then I take exception to myself and those statements - if there’s something to it - where my tongue was faster than my brain in such a special situation.

Interviewer: How do you think the Danish people should view you after these statements - in jest - about killing a Danish politician?

Akkari: It’s not statements about killing a Danish politician. And I think the people have more reason and sense to understand these kinds of things than one would think.

Interviewer: So you’re certain that the Danish people will forgive what you call an innocent joke?

Akkari: That’s up to them, but I am sure that people see that this isn’t anything to be taken seriously at all.

[Camera changes, interviewer out of picture. Ahmed Akkari seen being interviewed]

Akkari: We have made satire and poked fun at many things and…

[Camera changes back]

Interviewer: Do you understand that it might be hard for Danes to accept that it’s not okay to make caricatures of Muhammed, but that it’s okay to threaten - in jest - to kill a Danish politician?

Akkari: That’s a wrong conclusian and comparison to make of this.

Interviewer: Isn’t it very natural? You’ve been very angry, very offended that your prophet has been offended, but now you’ve - in jest - threatened to kill a politician. How do you think Naser Khader feels today?

Akkari: I hope he feels only safe because we all know that stuff like this is ridiculous and not acceptable. Good.

[Camera moves, another journalist moves in]

Interviewer 2: You were confronted with your statement…

[time lapse in interview]

Akkari: … recorded it, then I must have said it, otherwise I wouldn’t remember it.

Interviewer 2: So you DID say it?

Akkari: If they can document it with a tape, it must have been said, I can’t say more than that.

[another journalist]

Interviewer 3: Do you doubt that you’ve said it? Because they write..

Akkari: Yes, I do. But I don’t have…

[time lapse again, original journalist back in the game]

Interviewer: How do you think your threats against Naser Khader affect the situation for Danish Moslems?

Akkari: I don’t think they have to affect anything, because if we have a public who understand things in proportions, nothing will happen, but if one is very narrow-minded, I do understand how…

Interviewer: But don’t you think you’ve hurt the cause of Moslems in Denmark by threatening to kill a Danish politician?

Akkari: No, I don’t think that will happen, because, as I have said, it’s something that’s.. a unique situation.

UPDATE 9
Naser Khader is considering resigning his mandate in the Danish parliament Folketinget. JP has published a report by Ritzau’s bureau quoting a statement made to TV2’s news programme by Naser Khader saying that he is considering leaving Danish politics following the death threat made by Ahmed Akkari. It says that the last few months have put him under intense pressure and he has had to accept protection by the Police Intelligence Service. According to TV2, Naser Khader has experienced very unpleasant episodes, i.a. confrontations with the Moslem extremist of Hizb-ut-Tahrir and other radical organisations. He has also received death threats by mail.

Therefore he has chosen to take a political time-out before announcing his decision.

Marianne Jelved, the leader of the Social Liberals says to DR about the news that she has had contact with Naser Khader and that:

He and his family are understandably very shaken. They need a bit of peace this weekend. We in the parliamentary group will give all possible support to Naser Khader and his family. I don’t hope that he does that, resigns from politics. It’s unbearable, but I respect that he needs a few days of peace.

Friend of Naser Khader, parliamentarian Morten Helveg Petersen of the Social Liberals says to Politiken:

Naser is the symbol of seperation between religion and politics and that is why this is bigger than just that forked-tongued guy Akkari. As a religious leader he has a responsibility to not create a situation and to not deceive. That responsibility he has failed totally and my fear is that it has an effect in places we don’t know well enough. That’s why there’s cause for concern.

UPDATE 10 MARCH 24 18:41 CET
Naser Khader has issued this statement on his website:

My Situation
March 24, 2006
There’s a lot of speculation about my situation right now. But let me make this clear: I have not gone under ground, nor did I have a nervous breakdown. I need to rest after having endured several months of stress, and I need to be with my family.

Thank you very much for the many mails I have received supporting me and and my family.

Regards,
Naser Khader.

Ekstra Bladet reports that Naser Khader has hired a crisis psychologist to help him. He says to Ekstra Bladet that:

I have said all along that I would overcome the threats, but I just can’t anymore. It’s just become too much.

This blog hopes that Naser Khader gets better. He’s a great man.

Sandmonkey had a post up with a link to the first 6 minutes of the programme yesterday. Before the post was deleted, I snatched the link.

DR.DK reports that Imam Ahmed Akkari is no longer the spokesman for the Islamic Faith Community. Board member of the Islamic Faith Community, Kasaem Said Ahmad:

Akkari cannot be our Spokesman after these remarks.

Akkari didn’t have much to say:

I have no comments to that.

Which is surprising. He usually comments on everything.

Board member and co-creator of the Democratic Moslems organisation, Fathi el-Abed Friday reported the Danish Imam Ahmed Akkari to the Danish police for his statements in the French programme. Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen of the Social Liberals has already done this, making that the second report the police received. These high-profile cases usually generate quite a number of reports in Denmark.

UPDATE 11 MARCH 25 00:01 CET
BREAKING NEWS
Imam Abu Laban of the same group as Imam Ahmed Akkari was caught on tape by Mohammed Sifaoui talking about a person who santed to execute a suicide operation. More here.

UPDATE 12 MARCH 25 00:14 CET
From Sandmonkey, the clip where Imam Ahmed Akkari goes all goofy, talks about killing a Danish Politician. Cracks me up he does. What a joker.

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Danish politicians have shown a remarkable amount of backbone in the case of Abdul Rahman who is on trial in Afghanistan for having converted from Islam to Christianity. Naser Khader of the Social Liberals and Søren Espersen of the Danish People’s Party suggest military action to free Abdul Rahman may be in order.
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So far, I have just translated the sections that are important to the case. This was translated into English from the French translation available here (Designation E/CN.4/2006/17, published on February 13th, titled “(Situation des populations musulmanes et arabes dans diverses régions du monde - Rapport soumis par le Rapporteur spécial sur les formes contemporaines de racisme, de discrimination raciale, de xénophobie et de l’intolérance qui y est associée, Doudou Diène)”

Note: Inter alia = among other things
recrudescence = a return of something after a period of abatement
vulgarizing = to make more common/widespread/accepted
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UPDATE: I have been informed by Nils of regionen that the report is indeed available online, but only in French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian. Its designation is E/CN.4/2006/17, published on February 13th and you can see it for yourself here.
UPDATE: I have now translated parts of the report directly from the French. Available here.

Saturday, March 18th Jyllands-Posten broke the story about an attack by UN special rapporteur Doudou Diéne on Denmark. The report has yet to be released to the public in full, but it was leaked by the UN to press sources in Denmark. The reasons for this are obscure. This blog thinks it is because the Human Rights Committee has been dissolved. This means that the new Human Rights Council won’t be able to meet until sometime this summer. Therefore Mr. Diéne probably leaked the report to the press in Denmark to ensure that it could become part of the debate before it would be seen as old news.

On to the report. The report has yet to be released to the general public, but Politiken and Jyllands-Posten have copies of it and have posted excerpts of it. The best overview is gained by using Politiken’s excerpts, but Jyllands-Posten have included some nice tidbits as well. All of it is heavy reading, done in Diplomatese, a new language which critters of Mr. Diéne’s ilk has made just for themselves.
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In response to Arla Foods’ bowing before the dictators of the Middle East, Jens Rohde who is the Political Spokesman for the ruling Liberal party, today suggested that Arla might feel more at home in Teheran.

Interview from Berlingske Tidende, March 21st:

“Arla is free to move to Teheran”
By Morten Henriksen

Interview
Arla is free to move their “main offices to Teheran if they feel like it. There they would be free to do business in a culture with which they are apparently more attuned than the Danish,” says the Political Spokesman of the Liberals, Jens Rohde, in a scathing condemnation of Arla’s latest marketing ploy in the Middle East.
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UPDATE: DPP requests that all Danish Imam’s statements be recorded. See below.

In a not-so-surprising move by Arla foods of Denmark, those of whining fame when the Battle of Khartoon first set in, Arla has launched a new advertising campaign in the Arab world. That’s not too bad in and of itself. BUT. They’ve decided to go about it by printing this statement in Arab newspapers together with TV commercials:

Arla Foods Distancing itself from the Cartoons

Statement from Arla Foods

At Arla Foods we feel that it is our duty to bring to your attention our position on the unfortunate event which took place a few months ago. We are also addressing the conference for International Support for the Prophet to take place on March 22 and 23 2006 to explain our point of view.

Arla foods distances itself from the act of Jyllands-Posten in choosing to print caricatures of the Prophet Muhammed and we do not share the newspaper’s reasons for doing so.
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This is rich..
From this article in Jyllands-Posten today:

When we are talking about integration - the full meaning of the word, where Moslems feel welcome and respected in the community - then it is my estimate that it will take 12 years of hard work to get the EU member countries to accept the idea of showing respect to the symbols of Islam.

Have the Norwegians no shame? Notice how the deal was struck as the Iranians were burning Norwegian flags. And how they have no problem supplying the regime in Sudan. Sickening. I know business is “just business” but this is just a disgusting lack of decency. Who’re they gonna sell [out] to next time? North Korea is probably a market ripe for the plucking. If you have the stomache for it, that is…
In my opinion the unnameable one got a good deal with Mr. Fjellhaugen. Faustus sold his soul for supernatural powers and pleasure for 24 years. Fjellhaugen only needed 9 Million NOK to take the deal. But as the article says, [he] “view[s] Norway as a good country to collaborate with”.
Quoting from Dagens Næringsliv (a journal of commerce in Norway):

Dumps Danes - Lands Deal with Iran
Båtservice Verft in Mandal had to cut out Danish supplier to land big contract with the port authority of Iran

Bjørn Fjellhaugen of the Shipyard group Båtservice in Mandal has gained a reputation for getting contracts from fae away. Lately the shipyard has delivered ships to both China, Austria and Iran, Dagens Næringsliv writes.

Dumped Danish boats
This time around the shipyard has been tasked with building nine pilot vessels for the port authority of Iran. The contract is estimated to be worth 110 Millions NOK.

“Iranian authorities view Norway as a good country to collaborate with,” Bjørn Fjellhaugen opines.

Though the contract was signed as the Norwegian flag was burning in the Middle East, that wasn’t a problem [at the negotations].
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New Op-Blog by Poul Højlund (who also authored Democracy before Religion) is up at Pia Causa. Quoting:

Op Blog: Muhammed was a violent figure

By Poul Højlund, March 16, 2006

It is noticeable that the Crown’s Prosecutor in his ruling states that Muhammad was indeed a violent person, spreading his message by the sword. We all knew that, - and now it’s official: Muhammad operates through violence.

New outbursts of violent Muslim reactions are expected in the days to come as the ruling of the Danish Crown’s Prosecutor becomes known.

The government yesterday with short notice summoned all foreign ambassadors in Denmark to a briefing on the ruling of the Crown’s Prosecutor, explaining once again the sealed doors between the government and the legal system.
[…]

Read it all at Pia Causa

This just in. It is indicated on Jyllands-Posten’s website that they will update this story, and I will follow suit when that happens. So far:

Crown’s Prosecutor: No indictment against JP
The Crown’s Prosecutor dismisses all charges against Jyllands-Posten for having published the cartoons of the prophet Muhammed.

Jyllands-Posten is not to be punished for publishing the hotly debated cartoons of the prophet Muhammed, the Crown’s Prosecutor informs. But Freedom of Speech is not without limits and the law doesn’t allow people unlimited debate on religious subjects, the Crown’s Prosecutor makes clear:

“It is thus not a correct description of existing law when the article in Jyllands-Posten states that it is incompatible with the right to freedom of expression to demand special consideration for religious feelings and one has to be ready to put up with “scorn, mockery and ridicule”,” Crown’s Prosecutor Henning Fode writes.

Faith Community Disappointed
The Islamic Faith Community expresses disappointment with the Crown’s Prosecutor’s decision and is thinking about how to proceed.

“The decision show that the people who made the blasphemy law weren’t familiar with the religious feelings of Moslems”, the spokesman of the Islamic Faith Community, Kasem Said Ahmad, who was among those who reported Jyllands-Posten.

“It sends a wrong message to the rest of the world. I think the decision is liable to have negative consequences for Denmark. It’s just not about the Moslems in Denmark, but also about the 1.4 Billion Moslems around the world,” Kasem Said Ahmad says.

Kasem Said Ahmad will now review the decision and its appendices with representatives of the other Moslem organisations in Denmark who reported Jyllands-Posten. They will review the option of bringing the case to the European Union’s Human Rights court.

The cartoons were headlined “The Faces of Muhammed”. According to Islam it is forbidden to depict the prophet and the cartoons ignited protests in large parts of the Moslem world.

As you will recall, Jyllands-Posten was reported as having broken the near-obsolete law against blasphemy which hasn’t been succesfully used since 1938. The charges were first dismissed by the Prosecutor for Denmark but the case was reopened by the Crown’s Prosecutor to ensure that all options had been tried.

Update: The Crown’s Prosecutor’s decision is available here.
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It’s a dirty job and all that, but need it really be such a dirty job to be a Danish cartoonist?

Cash and a car for the blood of Danish cartoonists
Peshawar, Mar 15
In his office in Peshawar’s historic Mohabat Khan mosque, prayer leader Maulana Yousaf Qureshi smoothes his beard from the white roots to the henna-orange tips.

“There’s no time limit. If someone kills the cartoonist in 50 years he will still get the million dollars,” he says.

In a blazing sermon on February 17, Qureshi promised the money — and a new car — to whoever assassinates any of the 12 Danes whose drawings of the Prophet Mohammed ignited a firestorm of protest across the Muslim world.
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This piece was published in today’s edition of Jyllands-Posten. It was written by Poul Højlund of Pia Causa. It’s good, conservative reasoning about this thing called Islam. Please notice, by the way, that Muhammed is depicted once again in this infidel newspaper from the North.

Update: Poul has a post about this article. If you want to praise or comment on the article, go here.

Democracy before Religion

By Poul Højlund

Islam is an unbreakable monolith of religion and politics. Islam as traditionally interpreted is not compatible with democracy, the author of today’s feature article writes.

“Freedom of Religion is included in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Danish Constitution. This means that I am free to be a Christian and my neighbor can be a Moslem without this interfering with our basic rights or our recognition by society at large. And our neighbor another door over is allowed to believe in absolutely nothing while remaining a co-equal member of our common society.

Freedom of Religion means that if someone by words or deeds attacks my two non-Christian neighbors on account of their beliefs or lack thereof, I’ll be there to defend their rights. In the same manner, I can count on them - if things get to that.”

That is what I wrote in Jyllands-Posten in November of 2002 in the feature article titled “Freedom of Beliefs and Belief in Freedom”, and I still hold it to be true - indeed I don’t see how I could believe otherwise. But in that article I also wrote of the real and present danger of oppression of Democracy. (more…)

UN: Denmark Violated Convention on Racism

By Jens Grund and Kristoffer Pinholt

The UN criticises that the Danish state didn’t vigorously pursue allegations of racism of racism against the leader of the Danish People’s Party, Pia Kjærsgaard in 2003. Pia Kjærsgaard says UN’s decision is preposterous.

Denmark violated the UN convention on racial discrimination by not vigorously pursuing a charge of racism against the leader of the Danish People’s Party, Pia Kjærsgaard, in 2003.

So says the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in a new decision. The case began in 2003 when Pia Kjærsgaard in a letter to the editor criticised the Minister for Justice for subbmitting a proposed law against circumcision of girls to the Danish-Somalian organisation. The leader of the DPP compared it to asking pedophiles whether they objected to a ban on sex with children.
[…]

This just made me laugh. We are being decided on by a committee who among its members can muster such excellent members of the world community as Argentina, Ecuador, China, Burkina Faso, Guatemala and… wait for it.
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This is a brilliant article by Samuel Rachlin criticising the 60 Minutes segment about Denmark which I covered here and which Expose the Left has available at this post.

Quoting from Punditokraterne. I have only quoted here, I suggest you all go there and read the full article.

The Correspondent’s New Clothes

By Samuel Rachlin

WASHINGTON The picture of Denmark presented by CBS and its 60 Minutes magazine on American TV as a country of aggrandizing, arrogant bigots, blond models and happy-go-lucky fools out of tune and touch with the real world has nothing in common with the country I call home. Moreover, it is home for immigrants from all over the world of all faiths and cultures who have found happiness and a safe haven for themselves and their families taking full advantage of what Denmark has to offer. They are doing much better than one would think after having watched Bob Simon’s story The State of Denmark on 60 Minutes.

This kind of journalism does not have much in common with the tradition of Ed R. Murrow or what his associate, Fred Friendly, taught me at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University when I took my degree there in the late 70ies. The snide asides and sarcasm that permeated the narrative do not mix with the high quality journalism I have learned to expect from 60 Minutes. What we got was a presentation so biased, distorted and corrupted by so many inaccuracies and innuendos that it was impossible to recognize Denmark. I am sorry to say it, but it is shameful for the profession that both Bob Simon and I belong to.
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I had a post about this earlier, but that has been deleted. It was only the English excerpt from aftenposten.no. Here I bring the full interview from dagbladet.no. This is a rough translation, but I need some sleep. If there are any errors, they will be corrected tomorrow.

(I would also like to thank sveitserosten for bringing to my attention that this interview had been made.)

Dagbladet.no February 13, 2006

Islam will be Victorious against the West

There can be no lasting peace between the West and Islam before the Islamic Caliphate has been reborn. So says Mullah Krekar. In this interview he shares a peek at Radical Islamists’ thoughts in the aftermath of the Caricature affair.

Carsten Thomassen

Mullah Krekar is wearing a bright white tunic as he welcomes us to his home at Tøyen in Oslo. In a corner sits the computer which Mullah Krekar uses to publish his articles and communicate with co-religionists from all over the world.
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Note: The word ‘understanding’ used here is translated from the Danish “forståelse”. I was made aware that this may not connote the same way in Danish as in English. The correct Danish connotation is that of “empathy” or “sympathy”, meaning that the Moslems in question are bordering on endorsing or supporting the actions of their coreligionists in the Middle East.

Seeing as we spend about 10 Billion US$ (70 Billion DKK) AFAIR on immigrants each year, this certainly comes as a welcome surprise (yes, your shit-o-meter just detected sarcasm):

Jyllands-Posten, March 12, 2006
One in every ten Danish Moslems: Burning Danish flags is OK

Less than half of all Danish Moslems clearly reject the violent reactions in the Middle East to the Muhammed cartoons. And 11 Percent have “full understanding” for flag-burnings, embassy-demolitions and boycott of Danish goods, a survey done by Catinét for Ugebrevet A4 shows.
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It’s a dirty job being a cartoonist in Denmark(From DR.DK):

Pakistan: Bounty for killing Muhammed Cartoonists

March 12, 2006 13.28 Foreign News

The men behind the Danish Muhammed cartoons are today faced with another bounty on their heads from Pakistan.

It is the Bar Association who are calling for the murder of the 12 Jyllands-Posten cartoonists.

“I offer the reward of 10 Million Rupees (1 Million DKK, 120000US$) for anyone who kills one of the Cartoonists,” says Syes Athar Bukhari, the President of the Bar Association.

Bukhari is supported by the Jamaat-i-Islami party, the second-largest part of the Pakistani coalition government. The local leader, Rao Zafar Iqbal, says that the mebers of the party are willing to die for this sacred cause.

They just updated their report, adding:

During the demonstration in the city of Multan Danish, Norwegian, Italian, Israeli and American flag were burned, and shouts of “Death to Denmark” were heard.

TV2-Nyhederne confirms the report.

Also see: 10 Charged with Threats against Jyllands-Posten

This feature article ran in yesterday’s Jyllands-Posten. Read this - if for nothing else, to get this sentence in its context: “Who is on our side when it comes to defending Danes against bondage and serfdom to foreign powers?”

Jyllands-Posten, March 9, 2006

Feature Article

Now is when History is Written

By Lars Hedegaard, Historian and Journalist, Copenhagen

The intransigence of the continuing Muhammed-debate shows that the combatants are painfully aware of what’s at stake. Posterity will ask a simple question: “On whose side were you when it mattered?” Says today’s feature writer.

Shortly after the travelling Imams had been to the Middle-East to spread lies about the country that had received them, it was said that the case of the Muhammed-cartons would enter Danish press history.
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Transcript of excerpt of press conference held today, available here. I can’t believe the balls of these infidels. Demanding an apology from us in our own country. MFs. I say, let them go to hell.

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This is a letter to the editor from yesterday. Beautifully written.

Politiken, March 9, 2006

Letter to the editor

Verbal Sidearm

By Katrine Winkel Holm, Cand.Theol.

ISLAMOPHOBIA. A new, often used word. An effective verbal sidearm: That’s Islamophobia, they say, and the attacker is checkmate, for a while at least. Maybe it’s time to turn that weapon against those who use it. That is what this article intends to do.
But first: What does it really mean? Literally, it simply means fear of Islam. In my opinion there may be good reasons for such a fear. Just ask Salman Rushdie[1] or Ayaan Hirsi Ali. But in the context in which the self-proclaimed euro-islamist Tariq Ramadan uses it, it means a clinical fear of Islam. A delusion, in other words, because the implicit contention of Mr. Ramadan is that it is not reasonable to fear Islam. Islam can easily be reconciled with Democracy and Freedom of Speech. Islam is a religion of peace, not a religion of violence. If we assume that that is true, the mystery seems to be why lately there have been so many who advocate limiting the Freedom of Speech on account of Moslems’ feelings. Why do members of PEN want to make a law to protect religious minorities - Moslems - “against defamation due to their religion.”
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This is a translation of a piece by Helle Merete Brix for Sappho in Denmark. It was recently published in Weekendavisen also. This is taken from the Sappho edition. The [NUMBER] tags are mine.

The Satanic Precedent of the Muhammed Cartoons

To the last detail, the events of the Muhammed cartoons issue seem to follow the same script as the events sorrounding Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses”.

By Helle Merete Brix

How is it that 12 cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammed published in a Danish newspaper can lead to a fatwa, threats from Al-Qaeda, diplomatic crisis, massive boycott of Danish goods and flag burnings in the West Bank? How can 12 cartoons get the Moslem World to jump on Jyllands-Posten and the Danish Prime Minister? To understand the dramatic developments of the Muhammed cartoons issue, it may be enlightening to recollect the case of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses.
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Though I disagree with the leader of the Danish People’s Party on many points, I must say that there is more sense in her than in all the Social Democrats in Denmark put together. I bring to you here her weekly newsletter, translated from Danish:
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