Naser Khader
Encyclopedia
Naser Khader (born July 1, 1963) 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. A leading proponent of peaceful co-existence of democracy
and Islam
, he established a new movement, Moderate Muslims (later renamed Democratic Muslims
), when the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
began.
In the national elections
on 13 November 2007, Naser Khader's Liberal Alliance party won five parliamentary seats. After a crumbling of the party and its membership base, Naser Khader himself left the party. Following a short period as an Independent Member of the Danish Parliament, Naser Khader joined the Conservative People's Party on on March 17, 2009. Khader lost his mandate in the 2011 Danish parliamentary election.
Khader is co-founder of an association of globally critically acclaimed Islamism
critics, who work to promote freedom of speech
and inspire moderate Muslims worldwide. Khader, and the Conservative Party advocate a complete ban on the burqa
as part of an integration initiative by the Conservatives' parliamentary group, describing it as un-Danish and oppression against women.
Naser Khader was named after Egypt
ian president Nasser
, but the name lost an s in transliteration to the Latin alphabet, once Khader's father emigrated to Europe in the 1960s—a period when European countries had begun the call for foreign workers. Naser himself did not join his father until 1974, when he moved from his village in Syria to a flat in central Copenhagen
, Denmark. He graduated from the Rysensteen Gymnasium
in 1983.
In 2006, he was awarded Danish "Freedom of Expression" award. The prize was awarded by an organisation that counts anti-Muslim writers and Jyllands-Posten
(the newspaper that published cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad), and thus, according to Tim Jensen, affects Khader's perception by "practicing Muslims".
, spokesman for the group of Danish Imams that toured the Middle East seeking support during the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
, said "...If Khader becomes Minister of Integration, it would be likely that someone dispatched two guys to blow him and the Ministry up?...".Vid. (Fr.) Naser Khader stated that he had to consider whether or not to continue in politics. When Akkari was later confronted with his statement, he said that he was joking. Later, on April 1, 2006, Khader indicated that he would return to politics.
, as well as the current press secretary, Michael Ulveman. In a documentary about the Mohammed-cartoons, Naser Khader is shown in jogging with political commentator Henrik Qvortrup
, exclaiming: "I don't want to give that idiot any more screentime" (referring to Ahmed Akkari). Naser Khader later tried to get the documentary stopped before it was aired.
During the 2007 parliamentary election
campaign, Qvortrup published a story in his tabloid magazine Se og Hør
, accusing Khader of tax evasion.
Several anonymous workers apparently admit to moonlighting at Khader's private home.
In reaction, Khader called Qvortrup a "swine", a common Danish insult similar to the word 'jerk', and declined to comment on the story; shortly after, he expressed regret for the use of that word. Khader claims he has documents proving that everything was legal and has threatened to sue the magazine for libel, a threat he later revoked after advice from his lawyer, instead he has complained to the Danish press board. Qvortrup, on the other hand, maintains that the story is correct.
In the national election held on 13 November 2007, Naser Khader's Liberal Alliance party succeeded in winning five seats. Due to reduced support for his two-party coalition, Anders Fogh Rasmussen
, who won his third term as Prime Minister, could have to seek support from Liberal Alliance. On 5 January 2009 Khader himself left the party, retaining his seat in the Danish Parliament. He considered joining either the Liberal or the Conservative Party, and told the press he already had made a decision, but wouldn't tell yet, what it was.
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...
for the Conservative Party
Conservative People's Party (Denmark)
The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition...
. As a member of Parliament, he has represented both Social Liberal Party and Liberal Alliance, the latter as founding leader, until January 5, 2009. A leading proponent of peaceful co-existence of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, he established a new movement, Moderate Muslims (later renamed Democratic Muslims
Democratic Muslims in Denmark
Democratic Muslims is a political movement in Denmark founded by Naser Khader, Yildiz Akdogan and other Muslims in February 2006 after the escalation of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. Its goal is a peaceful co-existence of Islam and democracy...
), when 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...
began.
In the national elections
Danish parliamentary election, 2007
The 66th Folketing election in Denmark was held on 13 November 2007. The election allowed prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to continue for a third term in a coalition government consisting of the Liberals and the Conservative People's Party with parliamentary support from the Danish People's...
on 13 November 2007, Naser Khader's Liberal Alliance party won five parliamentary seats. After a crumbling of the party and its membership base, Naser Khader himself left the party. Following a short period as an Independent Member of the Danish Parliament, Naser Khader joined the Conservative People's Party on on March 17, 2009. Khader lost his mandate in the 2011 Danish parliamentary election.
Khader is co-founder of an association of globally critically acclaimed Islamism
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
critics, who work to promote freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
and inspire moderate Muslims worldwide. Khader, and the Conservative Party advocate a complete ban on the burqa
Burqa
A burqa is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic religion to cover their bodies in public places. The burqa is usually understood to be the woman's loose body-covering , plus the head-covering , plus the face-veil .-Etymology:A speculative and unattested etymology...
as part of an integration initiative by the Conservatives' parliamentary group, describing it as un-Danish and oppression against women.
Life
Naser Khader is the son of a Palestinian father and a Syrian mother. He was raised in a small rural town outside Damascus in the traditional Syrian way. As a Palestinian refugee, his father had difficulties getting a good job in Syria, and although they lived in the village of his wife, she was often referred to as "The one who married a stranger".Naser Khader was named after Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian president Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
, but the name lost an s in transliteration to the Latin alphabet, once Khader's father emigrated to Europe in the 1960s—a period when European countries had begun the call for foreign workers. Naser himself did not join his father until 1974, when he moved from his village in Syria to a flat in central Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark. He graduated from the Rysensteen Gymnasium
Rysensteen Gymnasium
Rysensteen Gymnasium is a gymnasium in Copenhagen, DenmarkIt was founded by Laura Engelhardt and opened in 1881.-Notable alumni:With graduation dates:* 1931 Kirsten Auken – politician* 1944 Bodil Udsen – actress...
in 1983.
In 2006, he was awarded Danish "Freedom of Expression" award. The prize was awarded by an organisation that counts anti-Muslim writers and Jyllands-Posten
Jyllands-Posten
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten , commonly shortened to Jyllands-Posten or JP, is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper. It is based in Viby, a suburb of Århus, and with a weekday circulation of approximately 120,000 copies, it is among the largest-selling newspaper in Denmark...
(the newspaper that published cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad), and thus, according to Tim Jensen, affects Khader's perception by "practicing Muslims".
Possible death threat
When it was reported that Ahmed AkkariAhmed Akkari
Ahmed Akkari is a Danish political activist who became known for his involvementin the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy...
, spokesman for the group of Danish Imams that toured the Middle East seeking support during 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...
, said "...If Khader becomes Minister of Integration, it would be likely that someone dispatched two guys to blow him and the Ministry up?...".Vid. (Fr.) Naser Khader stated that he had to consider whether or not to continue in politics. When Akkari was later confronted with his statement, he said that he was joking. Later, on April 1, 2006, Khader indicated that he would return to politics.
Network of journalists and political consultants
Naser Khader is well connected among political commentators and journalists. He is on friendly terms with two of the former press secretaries of the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh RasmussenAnders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a Danish politician, and the 12th and current Secretary General of NATO. Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 27 November 2001 to 5 April 2009....
, as well as the current press secretary, Michael Ulveman. In a documentary about the Mohammed-cartoons, Naser Khader is shown in jogging with political commentator Henrik Qvortrup
Henrik Qvortrup
Henrik Qvortrup is a Danish journalist, political commentator, and previous editor-in-chief of the weekly Danish tabloid magazine Se og Hør.-References:...
, exclaiming: "I don't want to give that idiot any more screentime" (referring to Ahmed Akkari). Naser Khader later tried to get the documentary stopped before it was aired.
During the 2007 parliamentary election
Danish parliamentary election, 2007
The 66th Folketing election in Denmark was held on 13 November 2007. The election allowed prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to continue for a third term in a coalition government consisting of the Liberals and the Conservative People's Party with parliamentary support from the Danish People's...
campaign, Qvortrup published a story in his tabloid magazine Se og Hør
Se og Hør (Denmark)
Se og Hør is a Danish tabloid-magazine weekly published by Aller Press A/S.-External links:*...
, accusing Khader of tax evasion.
Several anonymous workers apparently admit to moonlighting at Khader's private home.
In reaction, Khader called Qvortrup a "swine", a common Danish insult similar to the word 'jerk', and declined to comment on the story; shortly after, he expressed regret for the use of that word. Khader claims he has documents proving that everything was legal and has threatened to sue the magazine for libel, a threat he later revoked after advice from his lawyer, instead he has complained to the Danish press board. Qvortrup, on the other hand, maintains that the story is correct.
New Political Party
Previously a member of the Social Liberals Party, Khader withdrew from the Party on 7 May 2007 in order to create his own party, Liberal Alliance.In the national election held on 13 November 2007, Naser Khader's Liberal Alliance party succeeded in winning five seats. Due to reduced support for his two-party coalition, Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a Danish politician, and the 12th and current Secretary General of NATO. Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 27 November 2001 to 5 April 2009....
, who won his third term as Prime Minister, could have to seek support from Liberal Alliance. On 5 January 2009 Khader himself left the party, retaining his seat in the Danish Parliament. He considered joining either the Liberal or the Conservative Party, and told the press he already had made a decision, but wouldn't tell yet, what it was.
Sources
- Khader, Naser (2000). Khader.dk Aschehoug, Denmark. ISBN 87-11-11464-9 (biography).
- Khader, Naser (2001). Nasers brevkasse Gyldendal Uddannelse, Denmark. ISBN 87-00-49372-4 (Naser's mailbox).
- Khader, Naser (2003). Ære og skam Borgen, Denmark. ISBN 87-21-02298-4 (about the islamic family- and lifepattern in Denmark and the Middle East).
- Khader, Naser (2003). Modsætninger mødes Forum, Denmark. ISBN 87-553-3331-1 (discussions with the former JewishJudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
rabbiRabbiIn Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Bent MelchiorBent MelchiorBent Melchior is a former chief rabbi of Denmark.Bent Melchior was born on 24 June 1929. His father Marcus Melchior was instrumental in the saving of the Danish Jews in 1943 and became chief rabbi of Denmark in 1947. From 1943 to 1945 Bent Melchior was a refugee in Sweden...
). - Dalsbæk, Bente (2006): Med underkop - Livet med min muslimiske svigermor. Ekstra Bladets forlag, Denmark. ISBN 87-7731-276-7 (about Khader's mother Sada, and Arab-Danish family life under the Muhammad cartoons controversy).