Naser Khader

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Naser Khader is a Syrian-Danish politician and writer. Born on July 1, 1963, in Damascus, he later moved to Denmark and became a well-known public figure.

Early life
- He grew up in and around Damascus with a Palestinian father and a Syrian mother.
- He moved to Denmark in 1974 and finished school there, later building a career as a journalist, commentator, and politician.

Political career
- Khader was first elected to Denmark’s Folketing (the national parliament) in 2001 as a member of the Danish Social Liberal Party.
- In 2007, he left that party to form his own party, New Alliance (which later became the Liberal Alliance).
- In the 2007 national elections, New Alliance won five seats. After a turbulent year, the party dissolved in 2009. Khader served as an Independent MP for a time before joining the Conservative People’s Party in March 2009.
- He lost his seat in the 2011 elections, but returned to parliament in the 2015 election.
- In August 2021, Khader left the Conservative Party and became an independent member of the Folketing. He announced he would not seek re-election.

Key ideas and actions
- 24-year rule: In 2000, Khader proposed a rule to require certain family-reunification cases to involve people at least 24 years old. The rule was adopted in immigration law in 2002 and was supported by many parties. A 2023 study said it helped slow family reunifications and influenced the generations affected.
- Burqa ban: He advocated for banning full-face coverings, saying they were un-Danish and oppressive. Denmark later passed a 2018 law banning garments that cover the face.
- Law of Consent: In 2018, Khader supported strengthening consent rules related to sexual offenses, arguing for better protection for victims.
- Wales Pledge: As Defense Committee chair, he promoted increasing Denmark’s defense spending to 2% of GDP.
- Moderation movement: In 2008, Khader co-founded an association aimed at opposing Islamist extremism and promoting freedom of speech. It began as Moderate Muslims and later became Democratic Muslims in Denmark. In 2023, he converted to Christianity and signaled an interest in priesthood in the Church of Denmark.

Controversies
- Plagiarism: In 2003, Politiken accused him of plagiarizing passages in a book. Khader said it was unintentional.
- 2017 allegations: Weekendavisen reported more plagiarism in a co-authored book, leading to withdrawal of the work by the publisher; both writers denied responsibility.
- Libel case: In 2017, Khader and colleagues faced a libel dispute over comments about an activist group; the High Court and later the Supreme Court acquitted them.
- Assault allegations: In 2021, five women accused Khader of sexual assault or harassment in the early 2000s. He denied the charges, and an independent review found the cases were not libelous. Following the investigation, Khader left the Conservative Party.

Honours
- Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.
- He has been named among the hundred most influential Danes of the 20th century and has been listed among the world’s 500 most influential Muslims since 2009.
- He has received recognition for his work on freedom of expression, democracy, and Middle East issues.

Personal life
- Khader’s father was Palestinian and his mother Syrian. He has two children and has been associated with various political parties over the years.
- Professionally, he has worked as a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, focusing on the Middle East, and as a TV and radio commentator.
- In 2023, Khader converted to Christianity and expressed an interest in becoming a priest in the Church of Denmark. He also maintains the Khader.dk website for information about his work.

This is a concise overview of Naser Khader’s life, career, and public impact.