Norway Far-rightists Profile Muslims
Resorting to Nazis tactics, a Norwegian anti-Islam group has published a list of Muslim companies and organization in the European country, a list that had only been made once before in Norway by Nazis to profile Jews in the past century.
"NDL has made a list of Muslim organizations in Norway and companies run by people with Muslim names,” LIM Network (Equality, Integration, Diversity) wrote in a message published on Facebook and cited by The Nordic Page magazine on Saturday, March 2.
“We cannot see that this has something with "Islam criticism" to do.”
The list had been published by Norwegian Defence League (NDL) had been compiled on the basis of listings in the Public Entity Registry.
Lars Johnny Aardal, deputy leader of the NDL, said that it was published "to show the extent of Islam and Muslims in Norway".
“The list is far from complete, and a longer list can be prepared with multiple keywords or keyword changes we have used,” NDL wrote in the prologue of the list.
“We have only included entries under the keywords “Islam, Kurdish, Turkish, Muslim, Iranian, Iraqi, Somali, Pakistani, Arabic, Mohammed, Ali and Hussein.”
The list drew criticism to the Norwegian anti-Islamic group, closely associated with the English Defence League (EDL).
“Such lists based on religious affiliation evokes unpleasant historical associations, and is likely to cause fear and hostility between groups in society,” LIM Network added in its Facebook message.
“We, as followers of a peaceful and tolerant multi-ethnic society, react and stand together against all forms of extremism.”
The NDL was formed around New Year 2010/2011, inspired by the EDL which had been formed in 2009.
The name of the far-right group hit the news in 2011 connected with anti-Islam mass killer Anders Behring Breivik who killed at least 76 people in twin attacks on a government building and a youth training camp in Oslo.
Norwegian analysts accused NDL of using Nazis tactics against religious minorities.
Khamshajiny Gunaratnam, deputy in Youth against Racism organization, said they wonder what they want to achieve with this list.
“I also thank NDL! They give me a good idea of the strength of the Muslims for the Norwegian society,” Gunaratnam said.
“Those people organize themselves, start businesses and participate in society Oh, what a delight!”
Norwegian Muslims are estimated at 150,000 out of the country's 4.5 million population, mostly of Pakistan, Somali, Iraqi and Moroccan backgrounds.
There are nearly 90 Muslim organizations and Islamic centers across the northern European country.
Source: On Islam
“We cannot see that this has something with "Islam criticism" to do.”
The list had been published by Norwegian Defence League (NDL) had been compiled on the basis of listings in the Public Entity Registry.
Lars Johnny Aardal, deputy leader of the NDL, said that it was published "to show the extent of Islam and Muslims in Norway".
“The list is far from complete, and a longer list can be prepared with multiple keywords or keyword changes we have used,” NDL wrote in the prologue of the list.
“We have only included entries under the keywords “Islam, Kurdish, Turkish, Muslim, Iranian, Iraqi, Somali, Pakistani, Arabic, Mohammed, Ali and Hussein.”
The list drew criticism to the Norwegian anti-Islamic group, closely associated with the English Defence League (EDL).
“Such lists based on religious affiliation evokes unpleasant historical associations, and is likely to cause fear and hostility between groups in society,” LIM Network added in its Facebook message.
“We, as followers of a peaceful and tolerant multi-ethnic society, react and stand together against all forms of extremism.”
The NDL was formed around New Year 2010/2011, inspired by the EDL which had been formed in 2009.
The name of the far-right group hit the news in 2011 connected with anti-Islam mass killer Anders Behring Breivik who killed at least 76 people in twin attacks on a government building and a youth training camp in Oslo.
Norwegian analysts accused NDL of using Nazis tactics against religious minorities.
Khamshajiny Gunaratnam, deputy in Youth against Racism organization, said they wonder what they want to achieve with this list.
“I also thank NDL! They give me a good idea of the strength of the Muslims for the Norwegian society,” Gunaratnam said.
“Those people organize themselves, start businesses and participate in society Oh, what a delight!”
Norwegian Muslims are estimated at 150,000 out of the country's 4.5 million population, mostly of Pakistan, Somali, Iraqi and Moroccan backgrounds.
There are nearly 90 Muslim organizations and Islamic centers across the northern European country.
Source: On Islam
