Vestre Landsret on Friday upheld the conviction of Grimhøjmoskeen chairman Oussama El-Saadi for social benefit fraud, sentencing him to 18 months in prison, of which three months must be served.
The verdict was handed down September 25, 2026, and DR reports that the high court confirmed a 2024 ruling from Aarhus District Court. El-Saadi chairs the long debated Grimhøj mosque in Aarhus. The remainder of the sentence beyond the three months was suspended.
El-Saadi stood trial alongside his cousin. According to the prosecution, the two formed a couple and lived together, while both told Udbetaling Danmark and Aarhus Municipality that they were single. The cousin was also convicted and received a 15 month sentence, fully suspended.
DKK 738,000 in excess payments
Over a period of years, the pair received 738,000 kroner more than they were entitled to, including housing support and early retirement pension. The money must be repaid to Aarhus Municipality and Udbetaling Danmark, which are both filing compensation claims, the prosecutor stated.
Prosecutor Casper Tobias Korkmaz said he was satisfied with the ruling, even though the sentence was not increased as the prosecution had sought. Per his statement to DR, the judgment underlines that giving authorities false information to obtain social benefits carries consequences.
Politiken reports the same sentence and overpayment figure, and adds a further finding that El-Saadi attempted insurance fraud involving 18,000 kroner. In the 2024 district court case, both defendants were given 15 month suspended sentences, and El-Saadi additionally received three months for insurance fraud.
Denied the charges throughout
El-Saadi has consistently rejected the accusations, both from the witness stand and in comments to DR. JydskeVestkysten, publishing the Ritzau account of the verdict, notes that he had sought acquittal.
The woman told the court that the two are not spouses in the usual sense, but have a form of mobile relationship in which they help each other. They have four children together. Korkmaz pointed out that police searching the woman’s apartment at 6:20 in the morning found El-Saadi asleep in the bedroom.
Beside him was a connected oxygen device, along with prescription medicine issued to him. The prosecutor also presented bank statements and messages which, according to the prosecution, show that the two took holidays together, ate together and discussed daily matters such as shopping and picking up the children.
El-Saadi has taken part in the public debate about Islam in Denmark for years. Islam researcher Jesper Petersen of the University of Copenhagen has previously described him as controversial, including after positive remarks about the establishment of a caliphate. El-Saadi has told DR that he has never wished to create a caliphate in Denmark.
