Mosque chairman faces charges over alleged 738,000-kroner benefit fraud

Oussama El-Saadi, the controversial chairman of Grimhøj Mosque in Aarhus, is appearing before an appeal court over allegations that he and his cousin fraudulently received 738,000 kroner in social benefits, DR reports. He denies all charges.

Prosecutors allege that El-Saadi and his cousin, with whom he has four children, falsely claimed to be single and living at separate neighbouring addresses while actually living together at the same address.

As a result, they allegedly received more in benefits, including disability pension and housing support, than they were entitled to.

“I believe I am innocent. I am someone who makes sure that I follow the rules. I have no interest in breaking the law,” El-Saadi told DR.

Both were sentenced to 15 months in suspended prison terms by Aarhus District Court in 2024. El-Saadi also received a three-month prison sentence for insurance fraud. He appealed the ruling and is hoping the appeal court will overturn it.

“I hope to be acquitted. I am certain that I will be,” he said.

According to Aarhus Stiftstidende, which attended the district court trial, prosecutors pointed out that police found El-Saadi in his cousin’s bed when they searched her apartment one morning. His clothes and medication were also found there, while his own apartment had been rented to other people.

A prominent and controversial figure

Grimhøj Mosque in Brabrand has been the subject of debate for years. Several young men who attended the mosque travelled to Syria to fight, including for the terrorist organisation Islamic State before its caliphate was finally defeated in 2019.

El-Saadi is a well-known figure in Denmark’s public debate about Islam, according to Jesper Petersen, a lecturer and Islam researcher at the University of Copenhagen who has followed Danish mosques for many years.

Petersen described El-Saadi as a controversial debater. El-Saadi became involved in discussions surrounding documentaries about Islamic environments in Denmark, including positive comments about the creation of a caliphate.

“When that debate had died down, the documentary ‘Mosques Behind the Veil’ was released, with one episode focusing on practices at Grimhøj Mosque. He was the one who had to defend the mosque,” Petersen said.

El-Saadi told DR that, through the so-called Aarhus model, he worked with several authorities to stop people travelling to Syria. He said the work received praise from several sides at the time.

He also said he had never wanted a caliphate to be established in Denmark.

“There is freedom of speech in Denmark, and I express my opinion. But when I do, it is controversial. We are human beings and can never agree 100 per cent,” he said.

El-Saadi’s 2024 conviction prompted local politicians in Aarhus to demand that the municipality increase its efforts against social benefit fraud.

A ruling in the appeal case is expected later this week. Prosecutors declined to be interviewed before the proceedings.