Following significant controversy regarding his Facebook post, Simon El-zeinab, a former member of the National Integration Council (Det Nationale Integrationsråd), responds publicly for the first time. El-zeinab, who was also employed by the Municipality of Aarhus, was sent home after posting a message interpreted as a tribute to the deceased Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

In a new Facebook post, El-zeinab clarifies that his intention was never to celebrate Haniyeh. “In connection with the death of Ismail Haniyeh, I expressed my sorrow and concern about what this means for the peace process in Gaza and the future of the Palestinians. Ismail Haniyeh was seen as an important negotiator by many Palestinians,” states El-zeinab, adding that his post was intended as a condolence, not a tribute.

El-zeinab’s previous post included a sentence expressing hope that “Allah accepts him among the martyrs.” This led to controversy, and El-zeinab now explains that his words were misunderstood. “It is unfortunate that my Facebook post has been misunderstood and used in a political context that does not reflect my true intentions,” he further writes.

He emphasizes that he does not wish to engage in political games and has always worked to promote understanding and peaceful coexistence. El-zeinab stepped down from the National Integration Council to avoid disrupting the council’s work with personal controversies.

The reactions to his post have been sharp. Frederik Vad from the Social Democrats (Socialdemokratiet) called it ‘absurd’ that El-zeinab expressed hopes for Haniyeh’s paradise. Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad has also strongly criticized El-zeinab’s statements, considering his resignation the right decision. “I cannot envision how one can sit on a national integration council while simultaneously celebrating the leader of a terrorist organization,” Dybvad has stated to the newspaper Jyllands-Posten.