Hamed Abdel-Samad
Hamed Abdel-Samad | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 1, 1972 Giza, Egypt |
| Occupation(s) | Author, publicist, former academic |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | Criticism of Islam |
Hamed Abdel-Samad (, Ḥāmid ʿAbd aṣ-Ṣamad, ; born 1 February 1972) is an author of German-Egyptian heritage, recognized for his critical stance on Islam.
Life
Abdel-Samad was born in Giza as the third child among five siblings in a family headed by a Sunni Muslim imam. At age 23, he relocated to Germany in 1995. He is married to a left-leaning educator who is 18 years older than him. His academic background includes studies in Japanese, English, and French in Cairo, followed by political science at Augsburg. He held research positions in Erfurt and Braunschweig, later serving as a lecturer at the Institute for Jewish History and Culture at the University of Munich. His doctoral thesis focused on the Bild der Juden in ägyptischen Schulbüchern ("The portrayal of Jews in Egyptian school textbooks"). In 2009, he departed from academia to dedicate himself fully to writing.
During his university years, Abdel-Samad was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, but an experience at one of their summer camps led him toward doubt and ultimately atheism.
In November 2013, there were reports claiming that Abdel-Samad had been abducted in Egypt; however, he resurfaced three days later. His mother refuted these kidnapping allegations.
Work
Abdel-Samad rose to prominence in Germany with his 2009 publication Mein Abschied vom Himmel (My Farewell from Heaven), which delved into personal contradictions without disparaging his cultural or religious background. Upon its release in Egypt, he became the target of a fatwa and required protection from law enforcement.
He supports the idea of an "Islam light" version within Europe—one stripped of shari'a, jihad, "gender apartheid", proselytism, and an "entitlement mentality". Abdel-Samad has criticized German politicians for appeasing Islam while neglecting societal apprehensions, a stance he believes fosters bitterness.
Between 2010 and 2013, he took part in the 2nd German Islam Conference, invited by Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière. In 2010, he joined journalist Henryk M. Broder on a 30,000-kilometer journey across Germany, which was documented in a five-part television series.
In June 2013, Egyptian cleric Mahmoud Shaaban declared Abdel-Samad an apostate and called for his death should he refuse to repent; on the same day, Sheikh Assem Abdel Maged issued a fatwa urging all Muslims to kill him. The German government demanded assurances from Egypt regarding Abdel-Samad's security and freedom of expression.
In 2016, Berlin police interrogated him over accusations of sedition, a move condemned by both Abdel-Samad and historian Michael Wolffsohn as an infringement on free speech.
His 2014 book Islamic Fascism (Der islamische Faschismus) depicts Islam as a fascist ideology masquerading as a religion.
YouTube activities
By 12 January 2020, Abdel-Samad’s official YouTube channel, Hamed.TV, had amassed over 140,000 subscribers and garnered more than 29 million views. Most videos are presented in Arabic; only eight out of 264 uploads are available in other languages.
From May 2015 until April 2019, he hosted the weekly program Ṣundūq al-Islām ("Box of Islam"), which covered Islamic history and current issues within Muslim communities. The channel was briefly removed by YouTube on 17 June 2019 but was reinstated following public outcry.
In September 2019, Abdel-Samad introduced Ṣundūq al-Insān ("Box of man"), expanding its focus to include historical and social subjects. During Ramadan of both 2016 and 2017, he frequently appeared on Moroccan-born Christian televangelist Rachid Hammami’s channel for the daily show Āya wa-Taʿlīq ("Verse and comment"), where they discussed Qur'anic verses with satirical commentary.
Perspectives on Israel and Palestine
In the aftermath of the 2023 Gaza conflict, Abdel-Samad voiced his solidarity with Palestinians on Facebook, denouncing the deaths of thousands of children in Gaza. Although he continued to critique Hamas and Islamist ideologies, he strongly opposed the collective punishment inflicted upon innocent civilians. His position led to allegations accusing him of antisemitism and sympathizing with terrorism, claims he refuted by reaffirming his commitment to human rights and adherence to international law. In late 2023, he moved to Beirut just prior to an Israeli assault on the city, explaining on Facebook that he preferred confronting war over enduring "cold hearts" and apathy in Germany.
Following a contentious exchange with Brother Rachid—where Abdel-Samad defended Gaza’s non-combatants while condemning Hamas, and Rachid voiced support for Israel—he addressed diverse audiences by reiterating his persistent critique of Islamism, challenging Christians who had insulted him, encouraging secular individuals not to forsake compassion, and highlighting that his perspectives evolve as a reflection of life's complexities.
On 4 April 2025, Abdel-Samad posted on Facebook accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, referencing the extensive devastation and civilian losses. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities while restating his condemnation of Islamist terrorism. Aware of possible censorship repercussions, he pledged to accept any consequences arising from his outspoken stance. This declaration provoked considerable controversy; notably, Michael Kuenne in The Times of Israel dismissed Abdel-Samad’s charge as "intellectually bankrupt" and "morally reprehensible," viewing it as a departure from his previously held principles.
English translations
- Hamed Abdel-Samad: Islamic Fascism, Prometheus Books, New York 2016,
German editions
- Hamed Abdel-Samad: Mohamed – Eine Abrechnung ("Muhammad – A Final Reckoning"), Droemer Knaur Verlag, Munich 2015,
- Hamed Abdel-Samad: Krieg oder Frieden – Die arabische Revolution und die Zukunft des Westens ("War or Peace – The Arab Revolution and the Future of the West"), Droemer Knaur Verlag, Munich 2011,
- Hamed Abdel-Samad: Der Untergang der islamischen Welt – Eine Prognose ("The Decline of the Islamic World – A Prognosis"), Droemer Knaur Verlag, Munich 2010,
- Hamed Abdel-Samad: Mein Abschied vom Himmel – Aus dem Leben eines Muslims in Deutschland ("My Farewell to Heaven – From the Life of a Muslim in Germany"), Droemer Knaur Verlag, Munich 2010,
External links
- Egyptian writers
- Living people
- 1972 births
- German male writers
- Former Muslim critics of Islam
- Egyptian former Sunni Muslims
- German former Sunni Muslims
- German people of Egyptian descent
- Ain Shams University alumni
- Academic staff of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- People from Giza
- Naturalized citizens of Germany
- Egyptian emigrants to Germany
- Egyptian atheists
- German atheists
- German critics of Islam