2006-05-11
Abu Laban to leave Denmark
Prominent imam to leave Denmark
Actually Laban has "threatened" to leave Denmark for several months now, and it appears that he hasn't fully made up his plans yet. When EkstraBladet phoned the Laban household last night, his daughter said she was aware of her father's statements, but that it still wasn't finally decided.
JyllandsPosten adds (my translation)
Speaking of Hell and other threats: Spokesman Kasem Ahmad (see here and here warns against possible unrest: There may come "a reaction" against Danish politicians Naser Khader and Pia Kjærsgaard, because they wanted Laban to leave. (Danish text): "There are somebody who's paying a high price for Abu Laban leaving. Maybe there wil come a reaction from people who can't control themselves."
Fathi El-Abed, deputy chairman of Democratic Muslims, disagrees: "I believe anybody in their right mind can see that Abu Laban has pushed himself out of society. He has been in Denmark for more than 20 years without understanding the society he lives in. And then he accuses the society of not understanding him."
Another expert, Helle Lykke Nielsen, fears (Danish text) that Abu Laban's absence will give room for more extreme Muslim leaders from the younger generation". Hey, Laban is a Salafist and member of the Muslim Brotherhood - how can you get more extreme than that?
Abu Laban wins Bad Democracy Award
Imams accused of doublespeak
The Laban-Akkari Dossier
Imam Abu Laban has many tears
Danish imams on candid camera
Creating Outrage (mentions Laban's terror connections)
Danish Imam Who Faked Cartoons, Linked to Terror, Cheered 9-11 (Gateway Pundit)
Update: It turns out that Laban is not about to leave: (Danish text)
Leaving. Not leaving. Extreme humiliation. Well satisfied.
Does anybody know what he's saying? Does he even know himself?
Imam Ahmed Abu Laban said he has felt humiliated in the aftermath of the cartoon controversy, which led to riots around the world, and that he would leave Denmark to return to Gaza with his family, the Jyllands-Posten newspaper wrote.
"I have recently felt that I am being viewed as a simple terrorist. No human being can accept that. It is an extreme humiliation," Abu Laban was quoted as saying. "I have taken the decision to leave Denmark."
Abu Laban, who settled in Denmark as a Palestinian refugee in the 1980s, has repeatedly accused Denmark of being disrespectful of Islam and Muslim immigrants.
"I believe that the Islamic cause has been a test for the Western democracies. I believe it has been proven that the Western democracies have no room for human rights," he was quoted as saying.
[ . . ]
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| Goodbye, Cruel Denmark |
Actually Laban has "threatened" to leave Denmark for several months now, and it appears that he hasn't fully made up his plans yet. When EkstraBladet phoned the Laban household last night, his daughter said she was aware of her father's statements, but that it still wasn't finally decided.
JyllandsPosten adds (my translation)
Abu Laban says that he has done all he could and has worked around the clock to create dialogue between Danes and Muslims.
He adds that he could have done the opposite of working for a dialogue:
"I could have created a rebellion. I could have created a Hell here in Denmark. I could make Muslims strike hard. But I have behaved myself with a very high standard for Islamic behaviour [. . .]"
Speaking of Hell and other threats: Spokesman Kasem Ahmad (see here and here warns against possible unrest: There may come "a reaction" against Danish politicians Naser Khader and Pia Kjærsgaard, because they wanted Laban to leave. (Danish text): "There are somebody who's paying a high price for Abu Laban leaving. Maybe there wil come a reaction from people who can't control themselves."
Fathi El-Abed, deputy chairman of Democratic Muslims, disagrees: "I believe anybody in their right mind can see that Abu Laban has pushed himself out of society. He has been in Denmark for more than 20 years without understanding the society he lives in. And then he accuses the society of not understanding him."
Another expert, Helle Lykke Nielsen, fears (Danish text) that Abu Laban's absence will give room for more extreme Muslim leaders from the younger generation". Hey, Laban is a Salafist and member of the Muslim Brotherhood - how can you get more extreme than that?
Abu Laban wins Bad Democracy Award
Imams accused of doublespeak
The Laban-Akkari Dossier
Imam Abu Laban has many tears
Danish imams on candid camera
Creating Outrage (mentions Laban's terror connections)
Danish Imam Who Faked Cartoons, Linked to Terror, Cheered 9-11 (Gateway Pundit)
Update: It turns out that Laban is not about to leave: (Danish text)
Imam Abu Laban has no plans to leave Denmark voluntarily. Abu Laban says so now, after several media Thursday reported that he has given up on Denmark and is on his way to Gaza with his wife and youngest children.
However, should his residency permit be revoked, he would be prepared to leave at once.
- I have never said I wanted to leave Denmark voluntarily. But if the law says I have to leave, then I'll leave of course, says Abu Laban to Ritzau´s bureau.
- I am here in Denmark and well satisfied. In principle I would like to stay, Abu Laban stated Thursday evening in TV2's program "Go' aften Danmark".
Leaving. Not leaving. Extreme humiliation. Well satisfied.
Does anybody know what he's saying? Does he even know himself?
2006-05-03
Jyllands-Posten strikes back
From the "Man bites dog" Department: Danish newspaper sues lawyer representing Muslims
Apparently Havemann has repeated some of the old imam-lies.
According to Jyllands-Posten today (Danish text, my translation), Havemann has said, "According to what I've been told, the worst of the drawings - the one with the bomb - was produced by one of the paper's own artists, seemingly ordered by the management, because the cartoons coming from the outside apparently weren't bad enough. If this is correct it further supports one of our fundamental claims: That the purpose of the paper's action was that a religious minority in Denmark by all means had to be ridiculed."
The first lie is that Jyllands-Posten has stated that they meant to Insult, Mock and Ridicule Muslims. We have looked at this lie before.
We have also touched on the second lie before, namely that Jyllands-Posten specifically asked the cartoonists to make insulting drawings. See the page with Lars Refn's cartoon.
The actual truth is that Flemming Rose (culture editor of Jyllands-Posten) has repeatedly stated the opposite: (Why I published those cartoons): "I wrote to members of the association of Danish cartoonists asking them "to draw Muhammad as you see him." We certainly did not ask them to make fun of the prophet."
So who's lying? The imams or Rose? Fortunately the original letter from Flemming Rose to the 40 cartoonists can be found on Journalisten (Danish text) and goes, "We are writing to you in connection with last week's public debate about depicting the Prophet Mohammed and free speech in relation to a children's book by Kåre Bluitgen, where several cartoonists allegedly have said "no thanks" to drawing Mohammed out of fear of the consequences. Jyllands-Posten is on the side of free speech. We would therefore like to invite you to draw Mohammed, as you see him. The result will be published in the paper next weekend."
"draw Mohammed, as you see him" - those were the words. I hope Jyllands-Posten will get the lying imams and their lawyer.
A Danish newspaper said today it had filed a defamation lawsuit against a lawyer representing a group of Muslim organisations which sued the daily for publishing the contentious Prophet Muhammad cartoons that sparked riots across the world.
The Jyllands-Posten sued Michael Christiani Havemann for saying its top editors ordered a cartoonists to deliberately make a "gross" drawing of the Prophet Muhammad because those solicited by freelance artists were not good enough.
Jyllands-Posten’s editor in chief Carsten Juste said Havemann’s accusations “are simply so gross and insulting that he has crossed the line for what we will accept”.
[ . . . ]
Apparently Havemann has repeated some of the old imam-lies.
According to Jyllands-Posten today (Danish text, my translation), Havemann has said, "According to what I've been told, the worst of the drawings - the one with the bomb - was produced by one of the paper's own artists, seemingly ordered by the management, because the cartoons coming from the outside apparently weren't bad enough. If this is correct it further supports one of our fundamental claims: That the purpose of the paper's action was that a religious minority in Denmark by all means had to be ridiculed."
The first lie is that Jyllands-Posten has stated that they meant to Insult, Mock and Ridicule Muslims. We have looked at this lie before.
We have also touched on the second lie before, namely that Jyllands-Posten specifically asked the cartoonists to make insulting drawings. See the page with Lars Refn's cartoon.
The actual truth is that Flemming Rose (culture editor of Jyllands-Posten) has repeatedly stated the opposite: (Why I published those cartoons): "I wrote to members of the association of Danish cartoonists asking them "to draw Muhammad as you see him." We certainly did not ask them to make fun of the prophet."
So who's lying? The imams or Rose? Fortunately the original letter from Flemming Rose to the 40 cartoonists can be found on Journalisten (Danish text) and goes, "We are writing to you in connection with last week's public debate about depicting the Prophet Mohammed and free speech in relation to a children's book by Kåre Bluitgen, where several cartoonists allegedly have said "no thanks" to drawing Mohammed out of fear of the consequences. Jyllands-Posten is on the side of free speech. We would therefore like to invite you to draw Mohammed, as you see him. The result will be published in the paper next weekend."
"draw Mohammed, as you see him" - those were the words. I hope Jyllands-Posten will get the lying imams and their lawyer.
2006-05-01
The Fallaci of Apologizing
Let's start with some old news: Anti-Islam writer Fallaci said to be planning Mohammed cartoon
Yesterday, Ms. Fallaci was interviewed by Flemming Rose (Sunday, Indblik page 7). At the end of the interview Ms. Fallaci says (my translation):
I'm afraid that's the way it is, Ms. Fallaci:
Claus Seidel has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for making a respectful drawing of Mohammed.
Franz Füchsel has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for portraying Mohammed as a peaceful man.
Arne Sørensen has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for drawing a picture of himself.
Bob Katzenelson has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for drawing a picture of Kåre Bluitgen.
Lars Refn has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for drawing a picture a school-boy named Mohammed.
Denmark is supposed to apologize for the fake Mohammed cartoons produced by the imams.
Denmark should also apologize for a picture of a chair, which according to the imams is even more blasphemous.
Denmark is also supposed to apologize for cartoons, which which only exist in the mind of the imams.
And the Vatican is busy apologizing for a cartoon without Mohammed.
The good news is that all this apologizing is not in vain: Denmark scores poorly as global brand
After a lot of apologizing the Arab League will graciously allow Denmark to stage a festival praising the culture of the Middle-East. Allah be praised.
Added: The interview is available in Danish at Snaphanen
Feb 23, 2006, 13:47 GMT
Rome - Oriana Fallaci, an Italian journalist known internationally for her books lambasting Islam, is reportedly working on a satirical cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed.
Giornale della Toscana, a local daily from Fallaci's home region of Tuscany, quoted the author Thursday as saying the drawing would depict the Prophet surrounded by 'his nine wives, including the child he married at the age of 70, his 16 concubines and a camel wearing a burqa.'
The unconfirmed report was immediately slammed by Italian Muslim leaders, who warned that it risked sparking angry reactions among followers of Islam.
Yesterday, Ms. Fallaci was interviewed by Flemming Rose (Sunday, Indblik page 7). At the end of the interview Ms. Fallaci says (my translation):
When the unrest started, people contacted me to get a statement, but I had nothing to say so I started making a caricature of Mohammed. It depicted a sensual exchange of glances between a she-camel and the prophet with all his wives lined up. The camel and the wives were wearing burqas, but the drawing didn't turn out well so I threw it away. I told about it at an awards handing ceremony. It triggered a scandal in Italy where a Muslim organization tried to sue me. For a cartoon which nobody has seen and which doesn't even exist.
I'm afraid that's the way it is, Ms. Fallaci:
Claus Seidel has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for making a respectful drawing of Mohammed.
Franz Füchsel has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for portraying Mohammed as a peaceful man.
Arne Sørensen has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for drawing a picture of himself.
Bob Katzenelson has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for drawing a picture of Kåre Bluitgen.
Lars Refn has received death-threats and is living under-ground, for drawing a picture a school-boy named Mohammed.
Denmark is supposed to apologize for the fake Mohammed cartoons produced by the imams.
Denmark should also apologize for a picture of a chair, which according to the imams is even more blasphemous.
Denmark is also supposed to apologize for cartoons, which which only exist in the mind of the imams.
And the Vatican is busy apologizing for a cartoon without Mohammed.
The good news is that all this apologizing is not in vain: Denmark scores poorly as global brand
However, Denmark may be through the worst and inching back to more normal relations with the Muslim world.
One sign was that the Arab League has said it backs Copenhagen's plans to stage a culture festival titled "Images of The Middle East" this year, the newspaper Information reported.
After a lot of apologizing the Arab League will graciously allow Denmark to stage a festival praising the culture of the Middle-East. Allah be praised.
Added: The interview is available in Danish at Snaphanen
