Islamists point their guns at Danish critics

Video of Danish-speaking fighters shooting at photos of six prominent Danes may be a violation of anti-terror legislation, lawyer says

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Aug 27, 2013

Two weeks ago, Salafist Abu Khattab uploaded a video in which he encouraged Danish Muslims to participate in the Syrian War.

Khattab’s call for jihad gained national attention because it was the first video targeting a Danish-speaking audience.

Now a new disturbing video, which also appears to have been recorded outside a Syrian village, features Khattab and three other fighters declaring war against anyone who attacks Islam.

One of the other soldiers in the video is also a Danish speaker.

Threats in video may be illegal
At the end of the video, the four armed rebels aim their rifles and shoot at photos of six Danes who they perceive as “enemies of Islam”.

Those being shot at are former PET secret agent Morten Storm, free speech advocate Lars Hedegaard, former MP Naser Khader, imam Ahmed Akkari, former PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen and cartoonist Kurt Westergaard.

Lawyer of criminal law Lars Henriksen said that the video is a criminal offence and told Politiken newspaper that it might even be a violation of the anti-terror legislation.

“The situation and the tone in the video are both very serious. These people seem to be at war,” Henriksen said. “The video is so straightforward in the end, when they point their Kalashnikov rifles at ‘Islam’s enemies’ and shoot.”

Akkari speaks to 'silent majority'
Imam Ahmed Akkari is one of the six people being threatened in the video. He said he is shocked by the content and wants the Muslim community to publicly distance themselves from these threats.

Earlier this year, Akkari announced that he regretted his involvement in the Mohammed Cartoon Crisis in 2006. This has made him a target for Islamists who disapprove of his new position.

“The silent Muslim majority has a responsibility to ask: ‘In what direction are they trying to lead our children’s thoughts?’ This is not how we are going to represent our faith. They [Muslims] are eager to flare up as soon as somebody criticise them, but now they are silent,” Akkari told Politiken. “I didn't do anything but speak my own opinion."

After the emergence of the Khattab's first video, the justice minister, Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokraterne) warned Danes against any involvement in the Syrian conflict and said that fighters will be prosecuted as soon as they return to Denmark.

The domestic intelligence agency, PET, recently assessed that 65 Danes have travelled to Syria to participate in the Syrian Civil War. The director of PET, Jakob Scharf, has said that the issue is one of the most serious security risks to the Danish society at the moment.

The video has been removed from YouTube, but can be found on Politiken's website.