Ehsan Jami | |
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| Born | (1985-04-20)April 20, 1985 (age 39) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, activist |
| Known for | Central Committee for Ex-Muslims |
| Political party | PVV (2009–present) Livable Rotterdam (2018–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Dutch Labour Party (2006–2007) |
| Website | www.ehsanjami.nl (unofficial) |
Ehsan Jami (born April 20, 1985) is anIranian-born Dutchpolitician, activist and author who co-founded the formerCentral Committee for Ex-Muslims.[1] He was previously a member of thePartij van de Arbeid (PvdA) before becoming active in thePVV founded byGeert Wilders.
Jami was born and raised on April 20, 1985, inMashhad,Iran. His father is adoctor. His mother converted, later in her life, toChristianity. As son of a doctor, Jami enjoyed substantial privileges inIran. In an interview, Jami stated: "My grandparents were Muslim, but my father was non-religious."[2] Yet in a different interview made two years earlier, he had described his father as Muslim.[3] Political engagement by Jami's father forced the family to leave the country. Together with his parents and his older sister, the then nine-year-old Jami arrived in the Netherlands in 1994,[4] later obtainingDutch nationality.
Jami studied Management Science for one and a half year in the Netherlands and joined thePartij van de Arbeid as member in 2003. He was elected to the city council ofLeidschendam-Voorburg in the local elections of March 2006.
After theSeptember 11 attacks in 2001, Jami started reading theQur'an andHadith, after which he decided he didn't identify with either. Jami criticizedIslamic prophetMuhammad, describing him as a "criminal".[5] Together with Loubna Berrada (founder of the Advisory Committee for Integration, part of theright-wingLiberal party), Jami founded theCentral Committee for Ex-Muslims in 2007.[6] The organisation, supported byAfshin Ellian, aims to supportapostates of Islam. Berrada left the committee shortly after it was founded because she felt Jami challenged Islam itself too much, saying: "I don't wish to confront Islam itself. I only want to spread the message that Muslims should be allowed to leave Islam behind without being threatened".[7]
From March 7, 2006, until November 6, 2007, he was member of thecity council ofLeidschendam-Voorburg on behalf of theDutch Labour Party (PvdA). From that date until 2010 he continued to be a member of the city council as independent member 'fraction Jami'
On 4 August 2007, Jami was attacked in his hometownVoorburg by three men. The attack is widely believed to be linked to his activities for the committee. The national anti-terrorism coordinator's office, the public prosecution department and the police decided during a meeting on 6 August that "additional measures" were necessary for the protection of Jami who has subsequently received extra security.[8]
In September 2007, he penned an op-ed together with PVV politicianGeert Wilders for the Dutch dailyVolkskrant, likening the threat of Islam to the rise of Adolf Hitler's National Socialism in the 1930s.[9] It was a response to National Antiterrorism CoordinatorTjibbe Joustra's remarks inAlgemeen Dagblad, who criticized the tone used by some people in the discussion about Islam.[10]
On October 4, 2007, Jami announced that he was working on a film project due to be released in February 2008 which he felt could be comparable in terms of controversy to theJyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.[11] On 31 March 2008 he cancelled this project after being urged to do so byDutch Minister of JusticeErnst Hirsch Ballin and threats from Iran.[12]
However, after months of deliberation, Jami again decided to release the film. The short film was released on 9 December 2008. The announcement was followed by calls from European Islamic organizations for boycott of Dutch products.[13] Dutch Premier Jan Peter Balkenende issued an apology for Jami's film.
After expressing strong opinions againstIslam, strong criticism of the PvdA,[14] and comparing the Islamic ProphetMuhammad withAdolf Hitler, he was asked to give up his council membership as part of the PvdA.[15] By refusing to resign and continuing as an independent member, he lost his membership of PvdA.
Jami was allegedly cited in the writings ofAnders Behring Breivik.[16]
Jami has been on the Advisory Board of theInternational Free Press Society, a key component of the internationalcounter-jihad network.[17]
In 2009,Geert Wilders announced that Jami had become part of theParty for Freedom.[18] During the2018 Dutch municipal elections, Jami was elected to Rotterdam council as a member of theLivable Rotterdam party.[19]
Media related toEhsan Jami at Wikimedia Commons
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