Ahmad Abu Laban: Difference between revisions
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===Other controversial comments and citations=== |
===Other controversial comments and citations=== |
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* On August 21, 1994 Abu Laban was interviewed in ''[[Jyllands-Posten]]'' following a massacre committed by the militant organization [[Armed Islamic Group of Algeria]] that led to the murder of among others seven Christian Monks and a number of foreign tourists. Asked if he could condemn the massacre, he replied: ''"Perhaps the tourists are spreading AIDS in Algeria just like the Jews are spreading AIDS in Egypt."''<ref>[http://www.uriasposten.net/?p=3032 Jyllands-Posten 21 August 1994. "Like the Jews." Abu Laban interviewed]</ref><ref>[http://www.sappho.dk/Den%20loebende/ekstremister_english.htm Islamic Extremists and Their Western Allies on the Offensive against Free Speech in Denmark] {{da icon}}</ref> |
* On August 21, 1994 Abu Laban was interviewed in ''[[Jyllands-Posten]]'' following a massacre committed by the militant organization [[Armed Islamic Group of Algeria]] that led to the murder of among others seven Christian Monks and a number of foreign tourists. Asked if he could condemn the massacre, he replied: ''"Perhaps the tourists are spreading AIDS in Algeria just like the Jews are spreading AIDS in Egypt."''<ref>[http://www.uriasposten.net/?p=3032 Jyllands-Posten 21 August 1994. "Like the Jews." Abu Laban interviewed]</ref><ref>[http://www.sappho.dk/Den%20loebende/ekstremister_english.htm Islamic Extremists and Their Western Allies on the Offensive against Free Speech in Denmark] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108103028/http://www.sappho.dk/Den%20loebende/ekstremister_english.htm |date=2008-11-08 }} {{da icon}}</ref> |
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* In his Friday sermon immediately following the [[September 11 attacks]], he preached that "[he mourned the victims] with dry tears".<ref>''From Fatwa to Jihad: The Rushdie Affair and Its Legacy'', Kenan Malik. Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2012.</ref> |
* In his Friday sermon immediately following the [[September 11 attacks]], he preached that "[he mourned the victims] with dry tears".<ref>''From Fatwa to Jihad: The Rushdie Affair and Its Legacy'', Kenan Malik. Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2012.</ref> |
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* Responding to [[Theo van Gogh (film director)|Theo van Gogh]]'s murder, his response was publicly to criticise it. Not long after, he criticized the European abuse of free speech for the issue of the controversial film ''[[Submission (2004 film)|Submission]]'' of the murdered Dutch filmmaker.<ref>Charlotte Aagaard, [http://www.information.dk/99483 Van Gogh gik for langt], [[Dagbladet Information]], November 12, 2004 {{da icon}}</ref> |
* Responding to [[Theo van Gogh (film director)|Theo van Gogh]]'s murder, his response was publicly to criticise it. Not long after, he criticized the European abuse of free speech for the issue of the controversial film ''[[Submission (2004 film)|Submission]]'' of the murdered Dutch filmmaker.<ref>Charlotte Aagaard, [http://www.information.dk/99483 Van Gogh gik for langt], [[Dagbladet Information]], November 12, 2004 {{da icon}}</ref> |
Revision as of 11:48, 20 January 2018
Ahmad Abu Laban (
Personal life
Ahmad Abu Laban was born in 1946 in
He emigrated to Denmark in 1984 and lived there for the rest of his life. He publicly denounced terrorism and the use of violence to further the Islamic cause. Moreover, he was known to fight for social justice and help alleviate social ills, by preaching that Danish Muslims had a responsibility to better the society in which they were a part. On 19 January 2007, The Islamic Society in Denmark announced that Abu Laban had fast spreading cancer and that it was probably was lung cancer.[2] Abu Laban died on 1 February 2007, aged 60.[3] The love and devotion many Danish Muslims had for Abu Laban come to display at his funeral, where thousands of Muslims poured into the streets of Copenhagen to engage in his Islamic funeral ceremony.
At the time of his death, Abu Laban worked as a religious advisor with The Islamic Society in Denmark. According to the organization's website, he was a member of the "Co-ordination council of Imams" in Europe.[4]
Controversy
Abu Laban has been declared persona non grata in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt because of his Islamist views.[5] He had been a well-known figure in the Danish media for his often radical statements about Islam and the integration of immigrants into the Danish society.
Sri Lankan researcher
Muhammad cartoons controversy
Abu Laban became involved in the media crisis which erupted in Denmark after the issue of the
Three additional images - allegedly sent to Abu Laban but never published - were added to the list of cartoons actually published in the dossier handed out during this tour. Ahmad Akkari has explained that the three drawings had been added to "give an insight in how hateful the atmosphere in Denmark is towards Muslims."
Other controversial comments and citations
- On August 21, 1994 Abu Laban was interviewed in Jyllands-Posten following a massacre committed by the militant organization Armed Islamic Group of Algeria that led to the murder of among others seven Christian Monks and a number of foreign tourists. Asked if he could condemn the massacre, he replied: "Perhaps the tourists are spreading AIDS in Algeria just like the Jews are spreading AIDS in Egypt."[6][7]
- In his Friday sermon immediately following the September 11 attacks, he preached that "[he mourned the victims] with dry tears".[8]
- Responding to Theo van Gogh's murder, his response was publicly to criticise it. Not long after, he criticized the European abuse of free speech for the issue of the controversial film Submission of the murdered Dutch filmmaker.[9]
- When Amina Lawal from Nigeria was condemned to stoning, he refused to condemn the sentencing, considering he is not a judge and know not much about the actual episode.
- After a gang killing in Copenhagen, Abu Laban proposed to deter any vengeance killing by the payment of a sum of "blood money" amounting to DKR. 200,000 – or the equivalent of 100 camels, according to his calculation, in today's currency, to prevent any revenge.[10]
- Interviewed on Danish television he was asked if he respected Osama bin Laden, Abu Laban replied: "[Osama bin Laden] is a businessman and "freedom fighter"[11]
- "I call these people rats in holes" was his characterisation of the Danish liberal politician Naser Khader.[12]
- In his Friday prayers on 5 April 2002, Abu Laban called on his congregation to offer their lives in a jihad for the Palestinian cause.[13] Outside the mosque buses were waiting to take the congregants to a demonstration at Parliament Square, where they held up signs equating the Israelis with the nazists, and burned the Israeli flag.[14]
References
- ^ En imam med magt Template:Da icon
- ^ Abu Laban critically ill with cancer Template:Da icon
- ^ Abu Laban has died Template:Da icon
- ^ Abu Laban at the Islamic Society in Denmark webpage Archived June 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Template:Da icon
- ^ Abu Laban taler med to tunger Template:Da icon
- ^ Jyllands-Posten 21 August 1994. "Like the Jews." Abu Laban interviewed
- ^ Islamic Extremists and Their Western Allies on the Offensive against Free Speech in Denmark Archived 2008-11-08 at the Wayback Machine Template:Da icon
- ^ From Fatwa to Jihad: The Rushdie Affair and Its Legacy, Kenan Malik. Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2012.
- ^ Charlotte Aagaard, Van Gogh gik for langt, Dagbladet Information, November 12, 2004 Template:Da icon
- ^ Imam proposal for blood-money appals Archived September 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Template:Da icon
- ^ Imam Abu Laban on Osama bin Laden Template:Da icon
- ^ Abu Laban in his Friday sermon, February 11 2006 Template:Da icon
- ^ The Stephen Roth Institute for the study of contemporary Antisemitism and racism, 2002-3 Archived June 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Antisemitism and Racism, Denmark Archived June 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine