Jump to content

Ahmed Akkari: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Rescuing 2 sources and tagging 6 as dead. #IABot (v1.4beta4)
Line 6: Line 6:
==Early years==
==Early years==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Akkari-jeg er dansker.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Newspaper article titled "I am Danish" and subtitled "15-year-old Ahmed would rather leave his family than go to Lebanon" (''Aalborg Stiftstidende'', February 1994]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Akkari-jeg er dansker.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Newspaper article titled "I am Danish" and subtitled "15-year-old Ahmed would rather leave his family than go to Lebanon" (''Aalborg Stiftstidende'', February 1994]] -->
Ahmed Akkari was born in [[Lebanon]] in 1978. In 1985 the Akkaris family came to [[Denmark]], where they obtained [[Right of asylum|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 <ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-14|publisher=Ekstra Bladet|title=Akkari: Jeg taler ikke med Ekstra Bladet|url=http://www.ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=335018|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-16|publisher=Ekstra Bladet|title=Akkari: Akkaris Dobbeltspil|url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=335215|language=da}}</ref> which made him eligible to be evacuated from Lebanon again in 2006.
Ahmed Akkari was born in [[Lebanon]] in 1978. In 1985 the Akkaris family came to [[Denmark]], where they obtained [[Right of asylum|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 <ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-14 |publisher=Ekstra Bladet |title=Akkari: Jeg taler ikke med Ekstra Bladet |url=http://www.ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=335018 |language=da }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-16 |publisher=Ekstra Bladet |title=Akkari: Akkaris Dobbeltspil |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=335215 |language=da }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which made him eligible to be evacuated from Lebanon again in 2006.


== Legal matters ==
== Legal matters ==
In 2001 Ahmed 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 [http://www.lykkeskolen.dk/ 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.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-15|publisher=Ekstra Bladet|title=Ahmed Akkari: Volds-imam (Ahmed Akkari: Imam of violence)|url=http://www.ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/article175618.ece|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-15|publisher=Jyllands-Posten|title=Imam undskyldte vold mod 11-årig (Imam apologized for assault on 11-year-old)|url=http://www.jp.dk/login?url=aar/artikel:aid=3558312|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-15|publisher=Ekstra Bladet|title=Akkari stod til fængsel|url=http://www.ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=335214|language=da}}</ref>
In 2001 Ahmed 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 [http://www.lykkeskolen.dk/ 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.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-15 |publisher=Ekstra Bladet |title=Ahmed Akkari: Volds-imam (Ahmed Akkari: Imam of violence) |url=http://www.ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/article175618.ece |language=da |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060418032508/http://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/article175618.ece |archivedate=2006-04-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-15 |publisher=Jyllands-Posten |title=Imam undskyldte vold mod 11-årig (Imam apologized for assault on 11-year-old) |url=http://www.jp.dk/login?url=aar/artikel:aid=3558312 |language=da }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-15 |publisher=Ekstra Bladet |title=Akkari stod til fængsel |url=http://www.ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=335214 |language=da }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


==Cartoons controversy==
==Cartoons controversy==
During the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy]] Akkari acted as a spokesman of the Danish-based European Committee for Prophet Honouring<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-06|publisher=Guardian|title=Danish paper rejected Jesus cartoons|url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,1703501,00.html | location=London | first=Gwladys | last=Fouché | accessdate=2010-04-23}}</ref>
During the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy]] Akkari acted as a spokesman of the Danish-based European Committee for Prophet Honouring<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-06|publisher=Guardian|title=Danish paper rejected Jesus cartoons|url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,1703501,00.html | location=London | first=Gwladys | last=Fouché | accessdate=2010-04-23}}</ref>
and spokesman of the [[Islamisk Trossamfund]] (Islamic Society in Denmark).<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-06|publisher=TV 2 (Denmark)|title=Spokesman for Islamisk Trossamfund Akkari chats with Bjerager on TV|url=http://politik.tv2.dk/article.php/3617652.html|language=da}}</ref>
and spokesman of the [[Islamisk Trossamfund]] (Islamic Society in Denmark).<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-02-06 |publisher=TV 2 (Denmark) |title=Spokesman for Islamisk Trossamfund Akkari chats with Bjerager on TV |url=http://politik.tv2.dk/article.php/3617652.html |language=da |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220185434/http://politik.tv2.dk/article.php/3617652.html |archivedate=2006-02-20 }}</ref>


===Controversial statements===
===Controversial statements===
In a documentary published by French television channel [[France 2]] 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 "[[Akkari-Laban dossier]]"). Akkari made a statement which can be interpreted as an [[wikt:implicit|implicit]] [[death threat]] against [[Naser Khader]], who is a moderate Muslim and, at the time, a member of the Danish parliament for the [[Det Radikale Venstre|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?..."''.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-23|publisher=Danmarks Radio|title=Imam meldt til politiet|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2006/03/23/014126.htm|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-23|publisher=Reuters|title=Danish police to probe imam's bomb threats|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-03-23T164714Z_01_L2397527_RTRUKOC_0_UK-RELIGION-DENMARK-THREATS.xml&archived=False
In a documentary published by French television channel [[France 2]] 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 "[[Akkari-Laban dossier]]"). Akkari made a statement which can be interpreted as an [[wikt:implicit|implicit]] [[death threat]] against [[Naser Khader]], who is a moderate Muslim and, at the time, a member of the Danish parliament for the [[Det Radikale Venstre|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?..."''.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-23|publisher=Danmarks Radio|title=Imam meldt til politiet|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2006/03/23/014126.htm|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|date=2006-03-23
|publisher=Reuters
|title=Danish police to probe imam's bomb threats
|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-03-23T164714Z_01_L2397527_RTRUKOC_0_UK-RELIGION-DENMARK-THREATS.xml&archived=False
}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
}}</ref>


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?..."''.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-23|publisher=Politiken|title=Tvivl om imams udtalelser om Khader|url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=445000|language=da}}</ref>
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?..."''.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-23 |publisher=Politiken |title=Tvivl om imams udtalelser om Khader |url=http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=445000 |language=da }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


A fellow party member from Khader's [[political party|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;<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-24|publisher=Danmarks Radio|title=Akkari er ikke længere talsmand|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2006/03/24/171252.htm|language=da}}</ref> Akkari denied this.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-26|publisher=Jyllands Posten|title=page 4}}</ref>
A fellow party member from Khader's [[political party|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;<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-24|publisher=Danmarks Radio|title=Akkari er ikke længere talsmand|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2006/03/24/171252.htm|language=da}}</ref> Akkari denied this.<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-03-26|publisher=Jyllands Posten|title=page 4}}</ref>

Revision as of 09:31, 28 June 2017

Ahmed Akkari (b. 1978 in Lebanon) (Template:Lang-ar) is a Danish political activist who became known for his involvement [1] in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. Widely called an "Imam" in the media,[2] he himself denied being one.[3] He was a co-author of the Akkari-Laban dossier, 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. In 2013 he distanced himself from his former position.

Early years

Ahmed Akkari was born in Lebanon in 1978. In 1985 the Akkaris 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 [4][5] which made him eligible to be evacuated from Lebanon again in 2006.

In 2001 Ahmed 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.[6][7][8]

Cartoons controversy

During the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy Akkari acted as a spokesman of the Danish-based European Committee for Prophet Honouring[9] and spokesman of the Islamisk Trossamfund (Islamic Society in Denmark).[10]

Controversial statements

In a documentary published by French television channel France 2 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 "Akkari-Laban dossier"). 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?...".[11][12]

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?...".[13]

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;[14] Akkari denied this.[15]

Apology

In July 2013 Akkari distanced himself from the actions he took as an Imam in promoting fundamentalism. He stated that he had come to see the value of free speech, and apologized for his behavior during the Muhammad crisis. He also met with the cartoonist Kurt Westergaard and apologized in person.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ "Alienated Danish Muslims Sought Help from Arabs". Spiegel Online. 2006-02-01.
  2. ^ "Danish Muslims split over cartoons". BBC. 2006-02-08.
  3. ^ "A Danish Muslim activist speaks". London: Telegraph. 2006-02-03.
  4. ^ "Akkari: Jeg taler ikke med Ekstra Bladet" (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet. 2006-02-14.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Akkari: Akkaris Dobbeltspil" (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet. 2006-02-16.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Ahmed Akkari: Volds-imam (Ahmed Akkari: Imam of violence)" (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet. 2006-02-15. Archived from the original on 2006-04-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Imam undskyldte vold mod 11-årig (Imam apologized for assault on 11-year-old)" (in Danish). Jyllands-Posten. 2006-02-15.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Akkari stod til fængsel" (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet. 2006-02-15.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Fouché, Gwladys (2006-02-06). "Danish paper rejected Jesus cartoons". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  10. ^ "Spokesman for Islamisk Trossamfund Akkari chats with Bjerager on TV" (in Danish). TV 2 (Denmark). 2006-02-06. Archived from the original on 2006-02-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Imam meldt til politiet" (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. 2006-03-23.
  12. ^ "Danish police to probe imam's bomb threats". Reuters. 2006-03-23.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Tvivl om imams udtalelser om Khader" (in Danish). Politiken. 2006-03-23.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Akkari er ikke længere talsmand" (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. 2006-03-24.
  15. ^ "page 4". Jyllands Posten. 2006-03-26.
  16. ^ Jeg skylder måske hele Danmark en undskyldning, TV 2, 2013-07-29
  17. ^ [Ahmad Akkari, Danish Muslim Leader In Cartoon Rage Regrets Role, Apologizes To Cartoonist Kurt Westergaard http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/10/ahmad-akkari-danish-cartoon-_n_3736359.html?utm_hp_ref=religion]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ahmed_Akkari&oldid=787911851"