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?
