Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Aidh al-Qarni
al-Fourqaan
anti-semitism
CMO
Eindhoven
entry refusal
hate imam
Islam
Noord-Brabant
Rijswijk
Saudi Arabia
Yassin Elforkani
Friday, 1 May 2015 - 15:13
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Muslim group denounces "Hate Imam" accusation; Eindhoven event scrapped

The Saudi cleric Aidh al-Qarni is falsely labeled as “hate Imam," but is rather someone who confronts extremism, comments Muslims and Government Help Center (CMO). There were criticisms of his scheduled appearance at an event in Eindhoven for preaching anti-Semitic rhetoric in the past. The controversial leader was supposed to give a lecture at the Eindhoven al-Fourqaan mosqe. The event was canceled after the Italian government revoked the imam’s Schengen visa on Wednesday making short-notice travel to the Netherlands impossible. The allegations of hateful rhetoric are wrong, says CMO, which represents 80 percent of all mosques in the Netherlands. “Al-Qarni is a world renowned theologian who preaches a sound form of Salafism and rejects all manners of extremism,” said the organization's spokesman Yassin Elforkani. “On Twitter, where he has nine million followers, he criticizes terrorism. He also advocates a stronger position of women in Saudi Arabia. He is very progressive.” Also an anti-Semitic statement that the sheikh stated in the past does not immediately make him the “hate imam”, says Elforkani. “He never approved of anti-Semitism. But if someone years ago made a certain statement, should he still be banned?” he commented. It is time the government draws up clear rules for refusing entry to a foreign imam, states Elforkani. The framework currently lacks clear criteria and is hijacked by right-wing politicians. In recent months, several Islamic gatherings were compromised by arrival of controversial ministers. Authorities also canceled a charity gala in Rijswijk in February on similar grounds.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Pro-invasion graffiti spray painted onto Russian tank at Groesbeek museum
  • Organizations blame Netherlands for suffering caused by EU-Turkey asylum deal
  • The Netherlands remains in 5th on World Happiness Report
  • Share of social housing rentals keeps falling despite gov't plans
  • BBB up to 17 seats in Senate, Coalition down to 22
  • PSV drop points against Vitesse; Excelsior hammer Cambuur

Top stories

  • The Netherlands remains in 5th on World Happiness Report
  • Share of social housing rentals keeps falling despite gov't plans
  • BBB up to 17 seats in Senate, Coalition down to 22
  • Sint Maarten MP Brison suspected of corruption was released, remains suspect
  • Netherlands co-organized UN conference must put water higher on the agenda
  • Thousands of volunteers clean up 200,000 kilos of waste along the Maas river

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content