Muslim mayor of second largest Dutch city says he’s a Salafist

Muslim mayor of second largest Dutch city says he’s a Salafist https://t.co/K4WmSsjBrx

— Voice of Europe (@V_of_Europe) December 27, 2017

The mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, shocked some of the listeners of his radio interview with Dutch broadcaster NPO. Aboutaleb discussed several things but caused commotion when he said that he sometimes considers himself a jihadist and that “every Muslim is a bit of a Salafist”. 

The mayor said: “A Muslim who’s a Salafist wants to look like the Prophet.” 

When the interviewer asks: “So according to that definition you’re a Salafist as well?” 

The mayor answers with “Yes… all Muslims are for a small part Salafist” He added: “Salafists can also be found among Christians, if you approach it linguistically. Salaf is a progenitor, and a Salafist is someone who wants to look like his progenitor. For example, a Muslim who wants to look like Mohammed. In Christianity you also have people who want to look like Christ in their actions. Every Muslim is a bit of a Salafist”. 

About jihad Aboutaleb said: “I get up every day at 7 o’clock to do good for a city in the Netherlands. That is the jihad in its purest form.” 

He added there are several forms of jihad, “of which the armed struggle is only one form”.

Wiki says:

The Salafist doctrine is centered around the concept of looking back to a prior historical period in an effort to understand how the contemporary world should be ordered. They reject religious innovation or bid'ah, and support the implementation of sharia (Islamic law)."