Naser Khader

Naser Khader
Member of the Folketing
In office
18 June 2015 – 1 November 2022
ConstituencyZealand (from 2019)
East Jutland (2015—2019)
In office
20 November 2001 – 15 September 2011
ConstituencyCopenhagen (2007—2011)
Østre (2001—2007)
Leader of New Alliance
In office
7 May 2007 – 5 January 2009
Succeeded byAnders Samuelsen
Personal details
Born (1963-07-01) 1 July 1963 (age 61)
Damascus, Syria
NationalityDanish
Political partyIndependent (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations
Social Liberal Party (1984–2007)
New Alliance (2007–2009)
Conservative People's Party (2009–2021)
Domestic partnerBente Dalsbæk (until 2010)
Children2
OccupationSenior Fellow of Hudson Institute
Middle East expert and TV commentator
Radio host
ProfessionCand.polit.
Signature
WebsiteKhader.dk

Naser Khader (Arabic: ناصر خضر  Levantine pronunciation: Arabic pronunciation: [ˈnɑːsˤer xɑdˤer]; born 1 July 1963) is a Syrian-Danish politician and member of the Folketing 2001–2011 and again 2015–2022. Until 2021 he was a member of the Conservative People's Party.

He was first elected to Parliament representing the Danish Social Liberal Party in 2001. In 2007, he left this party to found New Alliance (later Liberal Alliance). In the national elections on 13 November 2007, Naser Khader's New Alliance party won five parliamentary seats. After a tumultuous year, the party dissolved and Khader became an Independent Member of the Danish Parliament until joining the Conservative People's Party on 17 March 2009. Khader lost his seat in the 2011 Danish parliamentary election,[1] but regained it in the 2015 election.[2] In 2021, Khader left the Conservative People's Party and announced he would not run for re-election.[3][4]

In 2000, he introduced the idea of a 24-year rule. In his book 'Khader.dk', he argued that the rule should be included in the Danish immigration law to prevent forced marriages.[5] The 24-year rule was introduced in 2002.[6] It was voted into law supported by all major political parties in Parliament as Immigration Law §9, 1.

A leading proponent of peaceful co-existence of democracy and Islam, Khader co-founded an association of opponents of Islamic supremacism and jihadism in 2008, with the aim to promote freedom of speech and inspire moderate Muslims worldwide when the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began.[7] The new movement was called Moderate Muslims, later renamed Democratic Muslims. In 2023, Khader converted to Christianity and opted to pursue priesthood within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark.[8] He expressed that while the Quran instilled fear within him, he discovered love within the Bible.[9]

In 2009, Khader first suggested a complete ban on the burqa as part of an integration initiative by the Conservatives' parliamentary group, describing it as "un-Danish" and "oppression of women".[10] But it wasn’t before May 2018, lawmakers approved the law, suggested by Khader and popularly known as the Burqa Ban.[11]

Naser Khader has been named among the hundred most influential Danes of the 20th Century,[12] and has been one of the world's 500 most influential Muslims since 2009.[13]

  1. ^ Berndt, Thomas (16 September 2011). "Disse folketingsmedlemmer har fået sparket". Politiken (in Danish). Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  2. ^ Biography on the website of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget). Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Naser Khader smides ud af Det Konservative Folkeparti". DR (in Danish). 18 August 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  4. ^ Leth, Anne Louise (18 August 2021). "Naser Khader forlader Det Konservative Folkeparti". Politiken (in Danish). Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  5. ^ Arnfred, Carl Emil; Røjgaard, Henrik (15 August 2009). "Khader mod Jelved i den nye værdikamp" (in Danish). Dagbladet Information. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Denmark – Analysis of legislation on spouse reunification". National Human Rights Institute. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  7. ^ "Khader stifter forening mod islamisme" (in Danish). Jyllands-Posten. 2 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  8. ^ Hansen, Nanna Nørby (24 August 2023). "Naser Khader bliver kristen: Vil uddanne sig til præst". DR.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  9. ^ Øhrstrøm, Daniel (18 August 2023). "Naser Khader vil være præst: Koranen fyldte mig kun med frygt, men i Bibelen fandt jeg kærlighed". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. ^ "K i kovending om burka". Berlingske (in Danish). 18 August 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Danish Conservatives Call for Burqa Ban". Spiegel. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  12. ^ "The Danish Model: Excellent, but Under Pressure. Discussion with Naser Khader, Member of the Danish Parliament". The Center for Transatlantic Relations. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  13. ^ "The 500 Most Influential Muslims" (PDF). The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. 2009. p. 109. Retrieved 21 July 2024.

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