1,000 join Muslim 'ring of peace' outside Oslo synagogue
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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — More than 1,000 people formed a "ring of peace" Saturday outside Oslo's main synagogue at the initiative of a group of young Muslims.
The event in the Norwegian capital follows a series of attacks against Jews in Europe, including the terror attacks in Paris in January and in neighboring Denmark last week.
One of the eight independent organizers of Saturday's event in Oslo, Hajrah Arshad said the gathering shows "that Islam is about love and unity."
"We want to demonstrate that Jews and Muslims do not hate each other," co-organizer Zeeshan Abdullah told the crowd, standing in a half-circle before the white synagogue. "We do not want individuals to define what Islam is for the rest of us."
"There are many more peace-mongers than warmongers," he added.
Norway's Chief Rabbi Michael Melchior sang the traditional Jewish end of Sabbath song outside the synagogue before the large crowd holding hands.
Co-organizer Hassan Raja said it was the first time he heard the song.
Ervin Kohn, head of Oslo's Jewish community, called the gathering in sub-zero temperatures "unique."
Several European countries have seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents recently, starting when the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza intensified last year.
In Paris, three Muslim gunmen killed 17 people at a kosher grocery, the offices of weekly Charlie Hebdo and elsewhere in early January. Last week a single assailant in Copenhagen killed a Jewish security guard outside a synagogue and a Danish filmmaker attending a free speech event.
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- Limner 52 minutes ago016What a courageous thing to co. Change often comes about through educated young people. It's a start. May it catch fire and spread around the world.MoreExpand Replies (4) Reply
- William 20 minutes ago38Alhamdulillah! Jazak'Allah khair to those brave Muslims who took part in this symbolic gesture of peace, religious tolerance, brotherhood and the true teachings of Islam.
Muslim imams and clerics have been speaking out in opposition to the radical element which is a tiny minority of the nearly 2 billion Muslims throughout the world since the radicalization began in the late 1950s. Unfortunately, such has not been well covered by the various western media outlets who have always opted for the more sensational stories that lead to higer advertizing revenue.
Finally, some of these same outlets are now reporting and showing the actions that best represent the true teachings of Islam and those to which the vast majority of Muslims world wide adhere to.
For those who still call out for more, or who say this is merely a publicity stunt, please, tell us what peaceful actions in support of religious tolerance, peace and brotherhood your own faith has publicly undertaken on a regular basis so that it, too, was not merely a publicity stunt or should we also be asking you and your like minded fellows to "do more"?
When ever and where ever good and brave men and women stand together for the welfare and well being of all others, let us not only applaud their efforts but let us also stand with them in solidarity.
Hands reaching out to hold other human hands, regardless of religion, race, gender or nationality are hands of peace. One can not hold a gun in their hand while also holding another's hand at the same time.MoreExpand Replies (4) Reply - DL 24 minutes ago35For all of you who think this event is an isolated one (and that, as Notwot wrote below, "damage control"), you need to go way, way, WAY beyond Yahoo.
Yes, from the Muslim in Paris who saved six by leading them into the grocery's freezer, to the many Muslim clergy who are speaking out against ISIS and terrorist-like activity, there are many Muslims who are, indeed, speaking up and speaking out.
In fact, when ISIS beheaded its first victim, more than a million Muslim youths tweeted something like "not in my name."
Check out sources like the Christian Science Monitor, BBC, Pacifica radio, NYT, etc. There are also many in the government speaking out against Islamic terrorism. (Note: that distinction.)MoreExpand Replies (3) Reply - William 22 minutes ago32If this is in fact a sincere Muslim act of reconciliation and not just a ploy to keep from being sent back to the Middle East or a way to protect their own safety . . . . Either way, it takes a lot of courage to stand up and just say no to more violence. Salute. I hope it starts a wave of reformation around the world that never ends. I can't feel trust for the Muslim, but I do feel compassion for how they have been so heinously misled and betrayed by Islam. I pray that God will open their eye of understanding and free them all from the prison of Islam.MoreExpand Replies (2) Reply
- Mike 3 minutes ago01Classic Islamic cycle pull.MoreReply
- Eggman 2 minutes ago01God Is God no matter what you call him. Bravo to these Danish muslims for standing up to violence in the name of God.MoreReply
- stephen 22 minutes ago01It's always the horrific act that society remembers. History will always account the damaging. Humans will always reach for equalityMoreReply
- RobertO 1 hour ago412Awesome....amazing...wonderful!!! I cannot believe that people are critical and who say that the attacks against people in Denmark and France, and elsewhere, were NOT motivated by anti-semitism or are otherwise critical of this amazing gesture of humanity....or that some say it is NOT ENOUGH support!! This is a TREMENDOUS step in the RIGHT direction, for Muslims to stand up to the violence, the terror, the killing, the bloodshed, the lies, all being done in the name of their faith.
The world needs peace, not domination by lunatics who kill, burn, slash, hack, pummel, beat, and shoot people to death. Standing up for what is RIGHT.MoreExpand Replies (2) Reply - ralph mini 1 hour ago49It has to be political and not about religion. Machiavelli said that sometimes politicians would use religion to control the people. Well it looks like the majority of people are good and they all want to live in peace and with freedom whoever is using religion to turn us on each other is sick in the head. Equality is here even if the extremists are fighting it... Equality is here for us all. All this talk about assimilating is just sick. Did the Italians assimilate over night? Did the Irish? Did the Chinese? Did the European immigrants assimilate to the native way of life? Get outta here , I'm more American than some of you white looking folks. My family served in the civil war, Korea, and Vietnam and I'm Muslim so what's up?MoreExpand Replies (2) Reply
- Wenche,Wendy,Flo 1 hour ago03EMMMMMMM Oslo is not part of Denmark,havent been that since 1814,and after that we have been sweedish til 1905 wehen we got independance,ower royal Family might have English,danish and swedish blodline but they always considerd themself norwigan and are that so why does it start With Copenhagen,denmark?MoreExpand Replies (1) Reply
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