– We as authorities must take our share of responsibility – VG

Labor deputy leader Hadia Tajik shared personal experiences growing up in her speech during the commemoration of the terrorist attack in the Al-Noor mosque. She told about the family’s concern about what could happen if Tajik took up too much space in the Norwegian public.

– Now it’s not about the fear of taking up too much space in public, it’s about taking a seat at all. Therefore, it is important to see that Norwegian Muslims are part of the Norway of the future and that we as authorities take our share of responsibility, said Tajik.

Tajik praised the mosque

Like the others in the rostrum, she praised the reaction pattern of the Al-Noor Mosque in the wake of the terrorist attack:

– You could have chosen bitterness, but you have chosen to open up. You have chosen to include and spread knowledge, said Hadia Tajik.

She also highlighted the unity between the family of the late Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen and the mosque.

– When you manage to show unity and solidarity, it is the duty of the rest of the unity to do the same, Hajik emphasized in the speech.

Phillip Manshaus (24) was sentenced in June 2020 to 21 years in prison with a minimum of 14 years for the murder of his step-sister Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen and the attack on the Al-Noor Mosque. His goal should have been to kill as many Muslims as possible.

The attack was stopped by Manshaus being overpowered by Muhammad Rafiq (65) and Mohammed Iqbal (75) and then handed over to the police when they arrived at the scene. Rafiq and Iqbal were awarded The medal for noble deed of the King in Council for his heroic efforts.

Will build knowledge center

The memorial service for the terrorist attack on the Al-Noor mosque in Bærum is a collaboration between the mosque and the Foundation on 10 August to prevent racism and violence in the local community

– We want to build a knowledge center next to the mosque. Where we should not be afraid to talk together. This mosque in Bærum, a former warehouse and grocery store, will be a place where everyone will want to come to talk to each other, said Henrik Syse, chairman of the board of the Foundation on 10 August.

Recently, the Islamic Council of Norway (IRN) expressed concern about the safety of Norwegian mosques, which they believe is too poor. They want to create a new position as a security consultant. IRN will send an open application to the Ministry of Justice requesting funds to create a position as security adviser

Minister of Finance Jan Tore Sanner emphasized the importance of not taking democracy for granted:

– A free society is something we must take care of. There are forces that will take it from us. We all have a responsibility to protect democracy and freedom of expression, Sanner said in his speech.

– We must not underestimate the importance of unifying rhetoric and dialogue. I would like to thank you very much in the Al-Noor Mosque and the Foundation on August 10 for the work you do to spread knowledge.

Abid Raja: – Hatred lives among us

Minister of Culture Abid Raja called for more money to do revealing work towards an active, extreme environment.

– We must live in peace and coexistence with each other, but we must not be naive. Hatred and extremism exist among us and it is our common responsibility to fight. I believe that together we can contribute to making Norway a better country to live in, said Raja.

He was crystal clear in his speech on where he places the responsibility:

– It was the hate ideology that took Johanne’s life. The ideology is not gone. The hatred is not gone even if those who committed the acts are in prison. Hatred lives among us, said Raja.

He quoted the late human rights activist Martin Luther King in the speech.

“I have a dream that my four children will be able to live in a nation where they are not judged by their skin color, but by their character,” Raja was quoted as saying.

– We must not be naive towards the hatred we know exists in some right-wing extremist Norwegians. It is not only dangerous against moguls, but also ethnic Norwegians.

Lower support

The board of the mosque emphasized that security has been tightened and told about worried members and lower support.

Where the Al-Noor Mosque was previously open to all, as part of the security measures, they have introduced a code chip for all members.

The mosque has also received bulletproof film on all windows and surveillance cameras.

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