A group of Muslims in Norway plan to form a human ‘peace ring’ around a synagogue in Oslo to protect it from terrorist attacks.
In the wake of last weekend’s attack at a Danish synagogue, a group of Norwegian Muslims are planning a peaceful demonstration to be held on Saturday during the Jewish sabbath at a synagogue in Oslo.
The idea is to “extinguish the prejudices people have against Jews and against Muslims” by forming a human “peace ring” around the temple, Hajrad Arshad, one of the event’s organisers, told Norway’s state broadcaster NRK in an interview cited by news site The Local.
“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,” Ms Arshad said.
In an unexpected turn of event – the leader of Oslo’s Jewish community at first said that he would support the event only if at least 30 Muslims promised to attend – nearly 800 people have said they will attend the planned “peace ring” in Norway, according to the event’s Facebook page.
“Islam is about protecting our brothers and sisters, regardless of which religion they belong to,” the page reads.
“Islam is about rising above hate and never sinking to the same level as the haters.”
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“Islam,” it continues, “is about defending each other.”
