– I lie if I say it feels okay. It’s not okay, says Ismail Abuhelal, and continues:
– I think it is the political climate in Sweden and the whole of Europe that is behind the decision.
It was in January 2024 that the School Inspectorate received a video taken during a sermon in a mosque where Ismail Abuhelal takes up the term Jihad. He mentions the word several times and emphasizes its weight for Muslims, especially when it comes to the education of children.
The video was further spread when it was included in Aftonbladets Reporting about the school in December last year.
Armed struggle
The School Inspectorate sent a translation of the sermon to CVE, center against violent extremism, to interpret the message. According to the School Inspectorate, CVE writes that “the speaker’s language shows that he refers to religiously motivated armed struggle”.
The school has argued that the translation contains errors and that Ismail Abuhelal talks about jihad as a spiritual struggle. The School Inspectorate writes that they take into account the objection, but that: “There is a risk that the audience interprets the statement as a call for armed struggle. This regardless of Ismail Abuhels intentions ”.
Now Ismail Abuhelal says he must follow the School Inspectorate’s directive, which requires him to leave school no later than April 25th.
– I do it so that the school can continue, he says.