Thoughts On The “Muslim Protective Ring” In Oslo

I debated whether or not to write this post, because like presumably most who read the story about the Muslim protective ring around the Oslo synagogue, I got a case of the warm and fuzzies. It seemed to be a very nice gesture, and I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth (unless it seems to be of the Trojan kind).

And for many of the Muslims involved, I believe there were no ulterior motives beyond opposing terrorism in their name and showing solidarity with the Jewish people.

For instance, I have it on good authority that the man pictured waving the Israeli flag in the photo is a Kurdish-Muslim who is a “gem of a human being.” And he is waving an Israeli flag!

muslim waving israeli flag

So I think it is important to recognize the goodness.

At the same time – and this is where I deliberated on posting about this – there are some troubling elements with the event.

Elements like the apparent linking of antisemitism with “Islamophobia.”

Chanting “No to anti-Semitism, no to Islamophobia,” Norway’s Muslims formed what they called a ring of peace a week after Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein, a Danish-born son of Palestinian immigrants, killed two people at a synagogue and an event promoting free speech in Copenhagen last weekend.

As this PJ media writer posts:

When you fail to leave your own agenda at home, this isn’t about protecting victims, it’s about you grinding your “Islamophobia” narrative.

Then there’s the background of the organizers. Like Ali Chisti.

But some members of his community said the event was tainted because of anti-Semitic statements that one of its eight organizers made in 2008, and because he said this week that he dislikes people who support Israel.

Ali Chishti confirmed on Saturday in an interview with Verdens Gang, a highbrow Norwegian newspaper, that he delivered on March 22, 2008, in Oslo a speech on the alleged involvement of Jews in planning the 9/11 Twin Towers bombings in New York. The speech’s title was:”Therefore I Hate Jews and Gays,” the paper reported, though Chishti said he was not the one who came up with the title.

“There were several thousand Jews away from work in the World Trade Center, and why there were more Jews in Mumbai when Pakistani terrorists attacked than usual?” he said then, repeating the conspiracy theory that Jews knew in advance of the attack that killed thousands. “Jews are a small group, but everyone knows that they have a lot of power,” he said.

In Saturday interviews, he retracted his words. In an interview with the daily Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, he said they were “anti-Semitic” and “unacceptable.”

“I was angry,” he told Verdens Gang. “I have since changed my views.” But he also said he “dislikes” people who support “an occupying force that has been condemned in several United Nations resolutions.”

“I think it is important to distinguish between being critical of Israel and anti-Semitism,” he also told Verdens Gang.

Eric Argaman, a pro-Israel activist and member of Norway’s Jewish community, said Chishti’s involvement “stained the event, which now feels more like a spin, on our backs, than a gesture of good will.”

Ok, people can change, but Chisti is still clearly anti-Israel. And while he seems to post against the likes of ISIS, he also has posted this on his FB page, which seems to back Jihad.

.

There’s also Hajrah Arshad, another of the organizers, who similarly is no fan of Israel. In the following post, she is careful to explain it is important not to conflate hatred of Israel with hatred of Jews, and likens it to comparing Muslims with ISIS and other terrorists.

.

Google translation:

I thank you for all fine feedback I have received today!

I just want to clarify one thing to those who ask;

Yes, I am not particularly fond of the state of Israel because of the conflict between Palestine and Israel. I like simply no policy Israel leads. I have made clear earlier.

BUT, I have nothing against Jews and have never expressed it either. It is important to distinguish between these two. For remember, it’s Norwegian Jews who also deplore their policies.

We Muslims do not like when people generalizes us, combing us under the same comb and compares us with IS and other terrorists. Important that we Muslims do the same the same mistake, we know how hurtful it can be!

This all raises the question whether for at least some at the event, this show of solidarity was more strategic than altruistic.

It reminds me of the efforts of some in the Israel haters camp – like Ali “Abumination” Abunimah – who go to great lengths to distance themselves from antisemitism for strategic reasons.

So while I cannot read the minds of the participants in the Muslim protective ring outside that Oslo synagogue, I suspect at least for some, there was an agenda any self-respecting supporter of Israel and the Jewish people should not embrace.

25 thoughts on “Thoughts On The “Muslim Protective Ring” In Oslo”

  1. Of course there were those who were out for their own agenda. Yes there was duplicitousness on the part of some. Then of course there were some that were there simply because they are against antisemitism. Some, like the man who wrote the post in TOI said he does support Israel along with the idea of a Palestinian State. I will take him at his word. Why someone was there you would have to ask each person individually and then judge accordingly.

  2. Though I truly respect and admire the Muslims that are brave enough to protect Jews, the obsession with the “Righteous Gentiles” is in fact just another sad sign that we are returning to the paradigm of pre-1945 Europe: the Jews as passive victims, depending on “Righteous” gentiles’ benevolence. That is what the Western Media loves; it brings them back to the “Bad Old Days” before Israel and Jewish self-reliance.

  3. A worthless exercise by Islamo-propagandists for infidel consumption. Historically, when Muselmaniacs surrounded a synagogue or a Jewish village, few Jews survived. If they did, they survived as sex-slaves for the soldiers of allah. The same “protective ringers” might just do that the next time.

  4. Look for pictures where the whole scene appers (there´s no many of them, but you can find some in google). Media showed close ups. But when you look at the whole pic, most of this thousand people that were there were white norwegians, not muslims.

      1. Yes, but only 20 mohammedans. This was a propaganda stunt, damage control after Paris and Copenhagen. And all of the norwegian press was in on it, they knew that these people were antisemitic and ISIS sympathizers, after all they have been writing about then for years.

        1. Apartheidthynameispalestine

          Hi John

          Were u there did u count them all. I was and there was a heck of a lot more than 20

          I see Denmark is following Norways lead and doing a similar event. Care to complain about it too?

            1. Apartheidthynameispalestine

              Didn’t see you John. Again, did u count them. I saw far more than 20. Who’s the liar. Oh and BTW. No need for the abuse

                1. Apartheidthynameispalestine

                  I see you edited your original response. This is what you originally posted:

                  “I did not see you either. You are the liar and obviously antisemitic too, all one has to do is to look at you “name””

                  Hahahaahhahahahahahahahahaah John calm down we’re on the SAME SIDE. And I’ve NEVER been called an antisemite before. I think you’ll find nothing could be further from the truth as my activities elsewhere would EASILY prove

                  Did you actually look at my name. What does it say John hahahaahhahahahahahahahahaah

                    1. Apartheidthynameispalestine

                      And yet you DID put it in. Now stop being a twat. We can disagree but I ain’t lying. We’re meant to be on the same side!

  5. Apartheidthynameispalestine

    Not worthless Warren. Very worthy in fact! The publicity world wide has been huge. Yes some idiots and JEWHATERS are being called out for their transgressions and rightly so.

    But I can assure you it was a good event and many went away thinking positive thoughts- the Rabbi spoke superbly- ME INCLUDED. AS I WAS ONE OF THE 1300

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top