Ahmed Akkari
Encyclopedia
Ahmed Akkari is a Danish
political activist who became known for his involvement
in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
. Widely called an "Imam
" in the media, he himself denied being one.
He is the spokesman of the Danish-based European Committee for Prophet Honouring
and (former) spokesman of the Islamisk Trossamfund
(Islamic Society in Denmark).
Ahmed Akkari was born in Lebanon
in 1978. In 1985 the Akkari family came to Denmark
, where they obtained asylum
, but returned to Lebanon
in 1990. Upon their return to Denmark a year later they found they did not qualify as refugees again, because the Lebanese Civil War
was over. With the support of some Danish local media, which featured young Ahmed as a model immigrant, they were granted a humanitarian residency permit in 1994. Ahmed Akkari subsequently went to high school and trained as a teacher in Århus. He became a Danish citizen in 2005 which made him eligible to be evacuated from Lebanon again in 2006.
, which played a major role in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
by bringing the issue to the attention of influential decision-makers in the Middle East
.
on 23 March 2006, Akkari was recorded - using a hidden camera
- in conversation with Sheikh Raed Hlayhel (who was the head of the delegation to disseminate the "Dossier about championing [the cause of] the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
"). Akkari made a statement which can be interpreted as an implicit death threat
against Naser Khader
, who is a moderate Muslim and, at the time, a member of the Danish parliament for the Social Liberal Party
. According to the footage Akkari said: "...If Khader becomes minister of integration, shouldn't someone dispatch two guys to blow up him and his ministry?...".
The comment was disputed. In the Arabic-French translation, Akkari calls for an attack on the ministry, but in two Arabic-Danish translations, Akkari merely states the possibility of such an attack. TV2's Arabic-Danish translation says "...If he (Khader) becomes minister of integration, isn't it possible that a couple (of people) would come to blow up him and his ministry?...".
A fellow party member from Khader's party
Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen reported Ahmed Akkari to the police. Ahmed Akkari initially denied the statements, but later apologized and stated it was meant as a joke.
The following day, 24 March 2006, Islamisk Trossamfund
announced that Ahmed Akkari was no longer spokesman for the organization; Akkari denies this.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
political activist who became known for his involvement
in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
. Widely called an "Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
" in the media, he himself denied being one.
He is the spokesman of the Danish-based European Committee for Prophet Honouring
and (former) spokesman of the Islamisk Trossamfund
Islamisk Trossamfund
The Islamic Society in Denmark is a Muslim religious organisation in Denmark led by Ahmad Abu Laban, which has played a significant role in bringing international Muslim attention to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, distributing a 43-page dossier, in order to raise inform the...
(Islamic Society in Denmark).
Early years
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1978. In 1985 the Akkari family came to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, where they obtained asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
, but returned to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1990. Upon their return to Denmark a year later they found they did not qualify as refugees again, because the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
was over. With the support of some Danish local media, which featured young Ahmed as a model immigrant, they were granted a humanitarian residency permit in 1994. Ahmed Akkari subsequently went to high school and trained as a teacher in Århus. He became a Danish citizen in 2005 which made him eligible to be evacuated from Lebanon again in 2006.
Conviction for violence
In 2001 Ahmad Akkari was sentenced to 40 days in prison for beating an 11-year old schoolboy on 3. November 2000 because the boy had allegedly been bullying Akkari's little sister. The sentence was suspended because Akkari was a first time offender. Akkari, who was studying to be a teacher at the time, was present that day at Muslim private school Lykkeskolen in Aarhus where he was working as an apprentice teacher. According to sources at the school quoted in Ekstra-Bladet, his 11-year-old sister was playing with a boy from her class and the boy accidentally pulled her headscarf off. Akkari sought out the boy, pulled his ear drawing blood, and threw him to the ground kicking him several times.Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Ahmed Akkari is a co-author of the Akkari-Laban dossierAkkari-Laban dossier
The Akkari-Laban dossier is a 43 page document which was created by a group of Danish Muslim clerics from multiple organizations set out to present their case and ask for support in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy....
, which played a major role in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
by bringing the issue to the attention of influential decision-makers in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Naser Khader threat
In a documentary published by French television channel France 2France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
on 23 March 2006, Akkari was recorded - using a hidden camera
Hidden camera
A hidden camera is a still or video camera used to film people without their knowledge. The camera is "hidden" because it is either not visible to the subject being filmed, or is disguised as another object...
- in conversation with Sheikh Raed Hlayhel (who was the head of the delegation to disseminate the "Dossier about championing [the cause of] the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
Akkari-Laban dossier
The Akkari-Laban dossier is a 43 page document which was created by a group of Danish Muslim clerics from multiple organizations set out to present their case and ask for support in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy....
"). Akkari made a statement which can be interpreted as an implicit death threat
Death threat
A death threat is a threat of death, often made anonymously, by one person or a group of people to kill another person or groups of people. These threats are usually designed to intimidate victims in order to manipulate their behavior, thus a death threat is a form of coercion...
against Naser Khader
Naser Khader
Naser Khader is Danish-Syrian and a former member of the Parliament of Denmark for the Conservative Party. As a member of Parliament, he has represented both Social Liberal Party and Liberal Alliance, the latter as founding leader, until January 5, 2009...
, who is a moderate Muslim and, at the time, a member of the Danish parliament for the Social Liberal Party
Det Radikale Venstre
The Danish Social Liberal Party is a social liberal political party in Denmark. The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.-Origin:...
. According to the footage Akkari said: "...If Khader becomes minister of integration, shouldn't someone dispatch two guys to blow up him and his ministry?...".
The comment was disputed. In the Arabic-French translation, Akkari calls for an attack on the ministry, but in two Arabic-Danish translations, Akkari merely states the possibility of such an attack. TV2's Arabic-Danish translation says "...If he (Khader) becomes minister of integration, isn't it possible that a couple (of people) would come to blow up him and his ministry?...".
A fellow party member from Khader's party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen reported Ahmed Akkari to the police. Ahmed Akkari initially denied the statements, but later apologized and stated it was meant as a joke.
The following day, 24 March 2006, Islamisk Trossamfund
Islamisk Trossamfund
The Islamic Society in Denmark is a Muslim religious organisation in Denmark led by Ahmad Abu Laban, which has played a significant role in bringing international Muslim attention to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, distributing a 43-page dossier, in order to raise inform the...
announced that Ahmed Akkari was no longer spokesman for the organization; Akkari denies this.