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Family background
Abdol-Hamid is one of six children.1 She was born in the United Arab Emirates to parents of Palestinian descent. Her father grew up in a Lebanese refugee camp. Her mother's family also lived in Lebanon, but moved to Saudi Arabia for a few years. In the 1970s, her parents moved to the United Arab Emirates before they contacted Dansk Flygtningehjælp during the mid-1980s, due to the police's harassment. The family was granted political asylum in Denmark, moving to Genner, South Jutland. Her father joined the family 8 months later. He did not like the pro-Israel slant of some Danish teachers and dropped out of language course to work as a halal butcher. He later opened the first shawarma restaurant in Åbenrå. From time to time, her father also led the muslim prayer, as an imam.
Childhood
Despite being practicing Muslims, the children took part in the local Christian services such as confirmations and Christmas. When she was 14, the family moved to Rødekro, where the family felt socially isolated. In 1998 the family moved to Vollsmose, Odense, to give the children more opportunities for higher education.
In 2004 she graduated with a degree in social work from Copenhagen College of Social Work and worked as family coordinator in Roskilde. She also started a successful girl's club. She is now studying for her Master's.
Political career
In high school Abdol-Hamid joined Social Democratic Youth of Denmark, wanting to fight discrimination.
In 2005 she was elected as deputy member of the Odense city council for the Red-Green Alliance. She then first came to media attention when she refused to shake a male colleague's hand, instead putting her hand on her heart in greeting.2
She served as spokesperson for the 11 Muslim organizations who complained to the police after the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.
In 2006, Abdol-Hamid hosted a TV show "Adam og Asmaa" together with Adam Holm. The show caused much debate since it was the first time a TV host in Denmark wore a hijab. The Danish feminist group Feminist Forum said her appearance "strengthens ethnic and gender equality in Denmark" but the controversial Women for Freedom association said, "The choice of Asmsa Abdol-Hamid (...) is an insult to both Danish and Muslim women."3
In 2007, she announced her plans to run for the Folketing, gaining the candidacy for a Copenhagen seat for the Red-Green Alliance.4 She is listed seventh on the party's parliamentary candidate list.5 Her candidacy caused debate in Denmark over the fact that she intends to serve wearing a hijab. She also received support from some imams during the elections. 6 Although she was not elected, she may still appear in the parliament as a substitute for Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen. Pia Kjærsgaard, leader of the Danish People's Party, has threatened to throw Asmaa out of the Folketinget if she were to start out with religious words from Folketinget's platform, although she admitted this wouldn't be possible. 7
Views
- Headscarf - "Wearing a headscarf does not mean that I’m oppressed or deprived. The values on which I live my life are Islamic and not Arab. It is important to make a distinction between religion and culture. In many respects, the Arab way of thinking discriminates against women; even though I am an Arab, I don’t make my choices on a cultural basis, but in the light of my religion."1
- Integration - "I don’t like the word ‘integration’. Everyone uses the word without being able to make any clear-cut definition. Ethnic minorities are not a problem in themselves; when identifying reasons for the lack of integration in Denmark, I prefer to talk about social classes and look at people’s class background rather than their ethnic identity."1
- Iraq - In July 2007, Asmaa Abdol-Hamid told tabloid newspaper B.T. that she supports the Iraqi resistance movement against the occupation forces and that "they have the right to live in a country where they can make their own decisions".8 In a reaction to the controversy which her interview started, she maintains her support for the Iraqi resistance, and compares it to the Danish resistance movement against the German occupation during Second World War. She thinks resistance against a foreign occupation is not only legitimate but a human right.
References
- ^ a b c Asmaa Abdol-Hamid's story, April 26, 2007
- ^ Da Asmaa gav hånd(Danish)
- ^ Hijab-clad Muslim TV Host Sparks Danish Furor
- ^ Feminist, socialist, devout Muslim: woman who has thrown Denmark into turmoil, Guardian, May 16, 2007
- ^ Muslim chance, The Copenhagen Post, May 3, 2007
- ^ Imamer anbefaler Asmaa, Kristeligt Dagblad, May 1, 2007
- ^ Pia K. om Asmaa: Vi smider hende ud af tinget, Politiken, November 18, 2007
- ^ "Asmaa: Fair at angribe danske styrker i Irak" (in Danish), B.T., 2007-07-23
See also
External links
- Asmaa's site (Danish)
