Oslo 'Ring of Peace' organizers slammed for Palestine solidarity
Muslim
youth inspire more than 1,000 Norwegians to stand in solidarity at an
Oslo synagogue. But not everybody’s feeling the love.
Text and photos by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org
Young Muslim women stand hand-in-hand in front of the Oslo Synagogue during the “Ring of Peace” vigil, February 21, 2015.
The
vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish
community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of
Europe.
A group of Muslim youth successfully organized a globally publicized event in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish community on Saturday.
In the wake of anti-Jewish violence the previous week in Denmark and
earlier attacks in France, they flooded the street in front of the Oslo
Synagogue with more than 1,000 supporters to form a symbolic “Ring of
Peace.”
The response in Norway and around the globe was almost universally positive. Almost, because — gasp —these Muslim youth also support Palestine and criticize Israel. Norway’s version of AIPAC, ADL, and CUFI all rolled into one is called MIFF (Med Israel for Fred, “With Israel for Peace”). And yes, they were miffed that
Hajrah Arshad, the 17-year-old dynamo who organized the event with
several friends had an image on her Facebook page calling for a free
Palestine that did not include 1967 borders. Because as we all know, the
1967 borders are sacred to all card-carrying Zionists. And the Israeli Tourism Ministry’s own maps,
which are about as honest of a representation of Israel’s version of
the two-state solution as you’ll ever see (hint: no West Bank border,
only Areas A and B).
By
contrast with MIFF, prominent Jewish leaders including Ervin Kohn,
president of the Jewish Community of Oslo, were “extremely positive”
about the support demonstrated by Arshad and her friends.
“I have been very impressed,” said Jewish Community board member Michael Gritzman. “I hope this will spread to other countries.”
Binyamin
Ben Katzman of Jerusalem expressed a more charitable attitude toward
the teen organizer’s Palestine solidarity in a Facebook comment: “As an
Israeli and a Jew, I want to say thank you to Hajrah Arshad. Maybe we
will disagree about Israel, but what you are doing brings pride and
unity to Muslims and Jews.”
“The
organizers did not want this event to be a platform for a debate on
Israel and Palestine,” said Kathrine Jensen, chair of the Palestine
Committee of Norway, “a decision we supported fully since we make a
clear distinction between Israel and Jews. This event was about
protecting our Jewish minority. We find it unacceptable that Jews feel
unsafe in Norway. They are Norwegian citizens and should not be held
responsible for Israeli politics.”
More
serious allegations were made against Arshad’s fellow organizer, Ali
Chishti, who had made a truly hateful speech in 2008 that included
anti-Jewish 9/11 conspiracy theories and homophobic remarks. This
association was reported on in Haaretz and elsewhere as having marred the Ring of Peace event. The Times of Israel reports,however,
that Chishti’s past beliefs were not intended to be a secret, but the
reason he was part of the event. He had distanced himself from his
anti-Semitic statements years ago and began his speech on Saturday
with an apology. The organizers thought the inclusion of Chishti showed
that “it is possible to humble yourself publicly and change your mind.”
“He’s
a role model for other Muslim youth and adults,” Kohn told The Times of
Israel. “Such role models are imperative against radicalization.”
Kohn
is fully aware that Chishti remains unapologetically critical of Israel
as “an occupying force that has been condemned in several United
Nations resolutions.” As Chishti said in an interview quoted in Haaretz, “I think it is important to distinguish between being critical of Israel and anti-Semitism.”
No
one can deny that there are anti-Semites within Palestine solidarity
circles. There are haters within every community. But their hateful
views do not define the movement.
“Extremists
are to be found everywhere,” said Markos Pizarro of BDS Norway. “Harm
done in the name of Islam is terrible — as are the killings of three
young Muslims in North Carolina by an atheist, or the slaughters of
Muslims in Asia by Buddhists.”
“Four
or five of the eight organizers of the Ring of Peace initiative, helped
organize, or participated in some way this last summer against the
atrocities that took place in Gaza,” notes Pizarro. “So we now have the
same people organizing in support of our Jewish community in Oslo. That
for me is a very clear statement of solidarity — young concerned
citizens trying to ease other people’s pains and suffering by trying to
help out, despite their ethnicity or religious beliefs. We should
applaud them.”
“Maybe
when people see that the same people who have such strong opinions
about Israel also support Norwegian Jews, then that will make an
impact,” said Qeaam Ibn Malik, another of the event’s organizers. “More
will understand that it is a system that we are fighting, not people of
another faith.”
As it turns out, these young people are capable of opposing more than one injustice at the same time.
They are the answer to those who say things like, “why don’t you
protest Syria instead of singling out Israel?” (Actually, the too-short
life of Kayla Mueller is the definitive answer to that accusation. Her legacy should forever shut the mouths of those flogging that tired line.)
The
organizers of Ring of Peace event met through a Facebook group called
“Injustice Exposed” formed to discuss many different issues around the
globe.
“I’m
a justice activist,” said Morad Jarodi, another organizer. “To support
Palestine to be free from occupation and support Jewish minorities is no
contradiction.”
Flowers
in front of the Oslo Synagogue in memorialize Dan Uzan, who was shot
and killed while guarding a synagogue in Copenhagen, Denmark, the
previous week, February 21, 2015.
Muslim
youth say evening prayers in the street outside of the Oslo Synagogue
as police look on prior to the “Ring of Peace vigil, February 21, 2015.
The
vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish
community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of
Europe.
Members
of the Oslo Jewish community watch from inside their synagogue as Ali
Chishti, one of the organizers of the “Ring of Peace vigil is
interviewed by media, February 21, 2015.
The
vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish
community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of
Europe.
A
sign reads in Norwegian, “Yes to solidarity, unity and inclusion; no to
hatred and stigmatization” among the more than 1,000 people gathered
for the “Ring of Peace” vigil, February 21, 2015.
The
vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish
community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of
Europe.
More than 1,000 Norwegians of all faiths surround the Oslo Synagogue during the “Ring of Peace” vigil, February 21, 2015.
The
vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish
community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of
Europe.
Members
of the Jewish community applaud 17-year-old Hajrah Arshad (left) and
other Muslim youth who organized the “Ring of Peace” vigil, February 21,
2015.
The
vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish
community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of
Europe.
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