There are around 200 mosques in Norway, but none of them currently practice prayer calls.
Now a mosque in Drammen wants to be the first in the country to call in for Friday prayer with a prayer call from the minaret.
– It’s two minutes, so I do not see it as a big problem. When the ice cream truck drives in the streets, it rings all the time, and we do not mind it, says Nasir Gondal, board member of Fjell mosque
But the desire to have a weekly prayer call has provoked strong reactions, both on social media and among politicians.
– These are preaching, religious verses that are shouted out over an area. It is embarrassing and will create division, says Jon Helgheim in Frp.
It was Drammens Tidende who mentioned the case first.
Will not disturb others
On Saturday, the around 600 members of the Drammen mosque had a general meeting. There, the board submitted a proposal to work to be able to introduce prayer calls every Friday.
The general meeting was positive to the proposal from the board and a project group has now been set up to assess whether the prayer call will become a reality.
“Everyone has the right to practice their religion and Muslims must also be allowed to do so,” says Gondal.
– GREAT IMPORTANCE: For many of the members, having a prayer call from the minaret once a week means a lot. Photo: Pål Martin Rossing / TV 2
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He thinks it is strange that the proposal has created such a great debate.
– We must make sure that we do not disturb anyone else. This is only two minutes on Friday afternoon, says Gondal.
Received massive agitation
Although it is not common for Norwegian mosques to have prayers, it is not illegal.
According to the law on religious freedom, one can not ban prayer, but it can be subject to certain restrictions, writes Ministry of Justice in a statement.
Gondal thinks it will mean a lot to the mosque that they are allowed to call in for Friday prayer.
– We say “It’s time to pray, it’s time to pray. Welcome, welcome ». But today we can only shout it here inside the mosque, says Gondal.
After the proposal was shared earlier this week, many of the mosque’s members have received rave reviews on social media.
– It’s a big dilemma. I do not know why people react so strongly. Islamophobia is getting worse and worse, and we must stop that, says Gondal.
Now they will go new rounds to consider the proposal to introduce prayer calls thoroughly, also with a view to the safety of the mosque.
Want a ban
One of those who is strongly critical of the proposal is FRP’s Jon Helgheim. FRP has long tried to introduce a ban on prayer calls in Norway.
– Freedom of religion does not mean that you can do what you want to embarrass everyone else. This means that one must also take into account my freedom not to be forced to do this, says Helgheim.
– CRITICAL: Helgheim is critical of the mosque’s proposal. Photo: Pål Martin Rossing / TV 2
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He believes that prayers can not be compared to church bells, and believes it is important to take a principled stand in the debate.
– If you first say yes to this, then we must reckon that it is only a matter of time before we have this five times a day, seven days a week, says Helgheim.
Although he strongly disagrees with the mosque’s proposal, the politician distances himself from all the incitement they have received.
– Negative comments must be tolerated, it is something you ask for when you go out with such a controversial wish. But we should stay far away, we should have a factual and good debate about this team, says Helgheim.
May have consequences
Cora Alexa Døving, researcher at the Holocaust Center, is not surprised that the case provokes strong reactions.
– Many people accept religious diversity as long as it is behind closed doors, while prayers are about taking a place in the public space in a larger way, says Døving.
Statements about religion and views on life can often lead to provocation and unkind comments, and the researcher believes this is especially true for Islam.
– Especially online and in the comments field, it is a bit as if the words Islam and Muslims trigger something very emotional and a great anger in parts of the population, says Døving.
– EXHIBITION: Deafness researches majority and minority relations. At the Holocaust Center, they now have an exhibition about everyday racism. Photo: Tom Rune Orset / TV 2
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The researcher believes that it can have major consequences that minorities who express themselves in public are often met with outrage.
– When especially the minorities withdraw from the public due to incitement, something we know many do, it is a shame, not only for those who experience it, but also for us as a society and democracy, says Døving.
Compares with church bells
The mosque in Drammen has also received pleasant comments and meets support from several political parties.
KrF politician and pastor Billy Taranger believes it is important that Muslims are also allowed to express their faith in public.
– Freedom of religion is very strong with us in Krf, and it applies to everyone. This call to prayer is part of their faith and therefore we will defend it. We believe this must be entirely possible in a multicultural society, says Taranger.
He thinks there is little difference between a prayer call and the sound of church bells.
– Here it is two minutes every Friday afternoon. You can get annoyed about church bells too, but that’s how it is to live in a city, says Taranger.
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