Originally published in Dawn
A group of Muslims in Norway plans to form a ‘ring of peace’ around a synagogue in Oslo on Saturday, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The newspaper quoted a Facebook page in Norwegian language, the translated version of which is shared below:
Islam is about protecting our brothers and sisters, regardless of which religion they belong to. Islam is about rising above hate and never sinking to the same level as the haters. Islam is about defending each other. Muslims want to show that we deeply deplore all types of hatred of Jews, and that we are there to support them. We will therefore create a human ring around the synagogue on Saturday, February 21. Encourage everyone to come!
Ervin Kohn, a leader of Oslo’s small Jewish community, had agreed to allowing the event on the condition that more than 30 people show up — a small gathering would make the effort look “counter-productive,” Kohn said.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people have indicated on Facebook that they will attend the “Fredens Ring” event. “We think that after the terrorist attacks in Copenhagen, it is the perfect time for us Muslims to distance ourselves from the harassment of Jews that is happening,” 17-year-old event organiser Hajrad Arshad said in an interview with Norwegian television.
“If someone wants to attack the synagogue, they need to step over us first,” posted another of the event’s organisers on Facebook.
