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{{Short description|Swedish politician}}
{{Short description|Swedish politician (born 1960)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{distinguish|Jamal Al Haj}}
{{distinguish|Jamal Al Haj}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Jamal El-Haj
| name = Jamal El-Haj
| honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Jamal El-Haj 2021.jpg
| image = Jamal El-Haj 2021.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = El-Haj in 2021
| caption = El-Haj in March 2021
| office1 = Member of the [[Riksdag]]

| constituency1 = [[Malmö Municipality (Riksdag constituency)|Malmö Municipality]]
| office1 = Member of the [[Riksdag]]
| term_start1 = 24 September 2018
| constituency1 = [[Malmö Municipality (Riksdag constituency)|Malmö Municipality]]
| term_start1 = 24 September 2018
| term_end1 =
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| successor1 =
| birth_name = Jamal El-Haj
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1960}}

| birth_name = Jamal El-Haj
| birth_place =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1960}}
| death_date =
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| death_place =
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| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2024–)<br />[[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]] (–2024)
| citizenship =
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| otherparty =
| party = [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]]
| spouse =
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| relations =
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| children =
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| alma_mater = [[Lebanese University]]
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| alma_mater = [[Lebanese University]]
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}}
'''Jamal El-Haj''' (born 1960) is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] politician, trade unionist and member of the [[Riksdag]], the national [[legislature]]. A member of the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]], he has represented [[Malmö Municipality (Riksdag constituency)|Malmö Municipality]] since September 2018.<ref name="Riksdag">{{cite web |title=Ledamöter & partier: Jamal El-Haj (S) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/ledamoter-partier/ledamot/Jamal-El-Haj_6a1b02dd-bdc4-4019-ab3e-dfeb133018ed/ |publisher=[[Riksdag]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928102100/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/ledamoter-partier/ledamot/Jamal-El-Haj_6a1b02dd-bdc4-4019-ab3e-dfeb133018ed/ |archive-date=28 September 2022 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |language=sv}}</ref> He had previously been a [[Substitute (elections)|substitute]] member of the Riksdag for [[Leif Jakobsson]] between June 2016 and September 2018.<ref name="Riksdag"/>
'''Jamal El-Haj''' (born 1960) is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] politician, trade unionist and member of the [[Riksdag]], the national [[legislature]]. A former member of the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]], he has represented [[Malmö Municipality (Riksdag constituency)|Malmö Municipality]] since September 2018.<ref name="Riksdag">{{cite web |title=Ledamöter & partier: Jamal El-Haj (S) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/ledamoter-partier/ledamot/Jamal-El-Haj_6a1b02dd-bdc4-4019-ab3e-dfeb133018ed/ |publisher=[[Riksdag]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928102100/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/ledamoter-partier/ledamot/Jamal-El-Haj_6a1b02dd-bdc4-4019-ab3e-dfeb133018ed/ |archive-date=28 September 2022 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |language=sv}}</ref> He had previously been a [[Substitute (elections)|substitute]] member of the Riksdag for [[Leif Jakobsson]] between June 2016 and September 2018.<ref name="Riksdag"/>


El-Haj was educated in [[Tripoli, Lebanon]] and has a degree in [[sociology]] from the [[Lebanese University]].<ref name="Riksdag"/> He has held various roles at the [[IF Metall]] trade union.<ref name="Riksdag"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tiberg |first1=Anna |title=IF Metalls Jamal El-Haj flyr från Libanon |url=https://da.se/2006/07/if-metalls-jamal-el-haj-flyr-fran-libanon/ |access-date=13 November 2022 |work=Dagens Arbete |date=18 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030164359/https://da.se/2006/07/if-metalls-jamal-el-haj-flyr-fran-libanon/ |archive-date=30 October 2020 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |language=sv}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Municipal council (Sweden)|municipal council]] in [[Malmö Municipality]] from 2002 to 2014.<ref name="Riksdag"/>
El-Haj was educated in [[Tripoli, Lebanon]] and has a degree in [[sociology]] from the [[Lebanese University]].<ref name="Riksdag"/> He has held various roles at the [[IF Metall]] trade union.<ref name="Riksdag"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tiberg |first1=Anna |title=IF Metalls Jamal El-Haj flyr från Libanon |url=https://da.se/2006/07/if-metalls-jamal-el-haj-flyr-fran-libanon/ |access-date=13 November 2022 |work=Dagens Arbete |date=18 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030164359/https://da.se/2006/07/if-metalls-jamal-el-haj-flyr-fran-libanon/ |archive-date=30 October 2020 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |language=sv}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Municipal council (Sweden)|municipal council]] in [[Malmö Municipality]] from 2002 to 2014.<ref name="Riksdag"/>

== Controversy ==

=== Alleged links to Hamas ===
In March 2023, El-Haj attended a conference hosted by the European Palestinians Conference, seen together with a known activist for the Islamist movement [[Hamas]], [[Amin Abu Rashid]], who was later arrested for financing terrorism linked to the organization.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-29 |title=Experternas hårda dom: "Det är mycket allvarligt" |url=https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/experterna-om-kritiserade--palestina-konferensen/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.expressen.se |language=sv}}</ref> A number of Swedish politicians immediately demanded his resignation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nilsson |first=Erik |date=2023-10-20 |title=M-profil vill utesluta S-ledamoten El-Haj |language=sv |work=Svenska Dagbladet |url=https://www.svd.se/a/Ll7wVx/m-profil-vill-utesluta-s-ledamoten-el-haj |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=1101-2412}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=L kräver att El-Haj lämnar riksdagen: "Säkerhetsrisk" |url=https://omni.se/l-kraver-att-el-haj-lamnar-riksdagen-sakerhetsrisk/a/gExM10 |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Omni}}</ref> In May 2023, it was announced that El-Haj had been temporarily dismissed from his position in the Swedish [[Riksdag|parliament]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=TT |date=2023-05-31 |title=Jamal El-Haj tvingas pausa uppdrag – beklagar |language=sv |work=Svenska Dagbladet |url=https://www.svd.se/a/0Q0a2g/jamal-el-haj-tvingas-pausa-utskottsuppdrag |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=1101-2412}}</ref>

After the events of 7 October 2023, where [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|Hamas attacked Israel]], leading to significant casualties, Jamal El-Haj was approached by Swedish media for a comment. El-Haj chose not to participate in the interview. This decision was interpreted in various ways.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Här vägrar vägrar Jamal El-Haj ta avstånd från Hamas |url=https://www.tv4.se/artikel/2jmOQDCFpd8nYmvvjcp9zM/haer-vaegrar-jamal-el-haj-s-ta-avstand-fran-hamas |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.tv4.se |language=sv}}</ref> After having received widespread criticism from both Riksdag members and various media platforms, he later publicly affirmed his decision to distance himself from Hamas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-16 |title=El-Haj: Jag tar starkt avstånd från Hamas |language=sv |work=SVT Nyheter |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/el-haj-jag-tar-starkt-avstand-fran-hamas--sckqpe |access-date=2023-11-17}}</ref>

=== Corruption scandal ===
On February 7, 2024, a leaked document revealed El-Haj's attempt to leverage his Riksdag position to influence the [[Swedish Migration Agency]] concerning the asylum application of a controversial [[Muslims|Muslim]] religious leader. Additionally, it came to light that he had requested the agency to conceal his efforts to sway the decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title=SOFIE LÖWENMARK: Jamal El-Haj försökte påverka Migrationsverket – för konservativ imam |url=https://www.expressen.se/ledare/sofie-lowenmark/jamal-el-haj-forsokte-paverka-asylarende-for-konservativ-imam/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.expressen.se |language=sv}}</ref> As a result of widespread criticism among the Swedish public, the Social Democrats declared on 9 February 2024 that they had lost confidence in El-Haj and asked him to resign. He subsequently left the party, but retained his seat in the Riksdag as an [[Independent politician|independent MP]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-12 |title=Jamal El-Haj lämnar Socialdemokraterna men sitter kvar i riksdagen – blir politisk vilde |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/el-haj-lamnar-s-men-sitter-kvar-i-riksdagen |access-date=2024-02-12 |work=[[SVT Nyheter]] |language=sv}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Members of the Riksdag, 2022–2026}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:El-Haj, Jamal}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haj, Jamal}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Lebanese emigrants to Sweden]]
[[Category:Lebanese emigrants to Sweden]]
[[Category:Lebanese University alumni]]
[[Category:Lebanese University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Malmö]]
[[Category:Politicians from Malmö]]
[[Category:Members of the Riksdag 2018–2022]]
[[Category:Members of the Riksdag 2018–2022]]
[[Category:Members of the Riksdag 2022–2026]]
[[Category:Members of the Riksdag 2022–2026]]
[[Category:Members of the Riksdag from the Social Democrats]]
[[Category:Members of the Riksdag from the Social Democrats]]
[[Category:Swedish trade unionists]]
[[Category:Swedish trade unionists]]



{{Sweden-SocialDemocratic-politician-stub}}
{{Sweden-SocialDemocratic-politician-stub}}

Latest revision as of 12:51, 3 October 2024

Jamal El-Haj
El-Haj in March 2021
Member of the Riksdag
Assumed office
24 September 2018
ConstituencyMalmö Municipality
Personal details
Born
Jamal El-Haj

1960 (age 64–65)
Political partyIndependent (2024–)
Social Democratic Party (–2024)
Alma materLebanese University

Jamal El-Haj (born 1960) is a Swedish politician, trade unionist and member of the Riksdag, the national legislature. A former member of the Social Democratic Party, he has represented Malmö Municipality since September 2018.[1] He had previously been a substitute member of the Riksdag for Leif Jakobsson between June 2016 and September 2018.[1]

El-Haj was educated in Tripoli, Lebanon and has a degree in sociology from the Lebanese University.[1] He has held various roles at the IF Metall trade union.[1][2] He was a member of the municipal council in Malmö Municipality from 2002 to 2014.[1]

Controversy

[edit]
[edit]

In March 2023, El-Haj attended a conference hosted by the European Palestinians Conference, seen together with a known activist for the Islamist movement Hamas, Amin Abu Rashid, who was later arrested for financing terrorism linked to the organization.[3] A number of Swedish politicians immediately demanded his resignation.[4][5] In May 2023, it was announced that El-Haj had been temporarily dismissed from his position in the Swedish parliament.[6]

After the events of 7 October 2023, where Hamas attacked Israel, leading to significant casualties, Jamal El-Haj was approached by Swedish media for a comment. El-Haj chose not to participate in the interview. This decision was interpreted in various ways.[7] After having received widespread criticism from both Riksdag members and various media platforms, he later publicly affirmed his decision to distance himself from Hamas.[8]

Corruption scandal

[edit]

On February 7, 2024, a leaked document revealed El-Haj's attempt to leverage his Riksdag position to influence the Swedish Migration Agency concerning the asylum application of a controversial Muslim religious leader. Additionally, it came to light that he had requested the agency to conceal his efforts to sway the decision.[9] As a result of widespread criticism among the Swedish public, the Social Democrats declared on 9 February 2024 that they had lost confidence in El-Haj and asked him to resign. He subsequently left the party, but retained his seat in the Riksdag as an independent MP.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Ledamöter & partier: Jamal El-Haj (S)" (in Swedish). Stockholm, Sweden: Riksdag. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  2. ^ Tiberg, Anna (18 July 2006). "IF Metalls Jamal El-Haj flyr från Libanon". Dagens Arbete (in Swedish). Stockholm, Sweden. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Experternas hårda dom: "Det är mycket allvarligt"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ^ Nilsson, Erik (20 October 2023). "M-profil vill utesluta S-ledamoten El-Haj". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ^ "L kräver att El-Haj lämnar riksdagen: "Säkerhetsrisk"". Omni. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ^ TT (31 May 2023). "Jamal El-Haj tvingas pausa uppdrag – beklagar". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Här vägrar vägrar Jamal El-Haj ta avstånd från Hamas". www.tv4.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  8. ^ "El-Haj: Jag tar starkt avstånd från Hamas". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). 16 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. ^ "SOFIE LÖWENMARK: Jamal El-Haj försökte påverka Migrationsverket – för konservativ imam". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 9 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Jamal El-Haj lämnar Socialdemokraterna men sitter kvar i riksdagen – blir politisk vilde". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.