COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — More than 1,000 people formed a “ring of peace” Saturday outside Oslo’s main synagogue at the initiative of a group of young Muslims.
The event in the Norwegian capital follows a series of attacks against Jews in Europe, including the terror attacks in Paris in January and in neighboring Denmark last week.
One of the eight independent organizers of Saturday’s event in Oslo, Hajrah Arshad said the gathering shows “that Islam is about love and unity.”
“We want to demonstrate that Jews and Muslims do not hate each other,” co-organizer Zeeshan Abdullah told the crowd, standing in a half-circle before the white synagogue. “We do not want individuals to define what Islam is for the rest of us.”
“There are many more peace-mongers than warmongers,” he added.
Norway’s Chief Rabbi Michael Melchior sang the traditional Jewish end of Sabbath song outside the synagogue before the large crowd holding hands.
Co-organizer Hassan Raja said it was the first time he heard the song.
Ervin Kohn, head of Oslo’s Jewish community, called the gathering in sub-zero temperatures “unique.”
Several European countries have seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents recently, starting when the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza intensified last year.
In Paris, three Muslim gunmen killed 17 people at a kosher grocery, the offices of weekly Charlie Hebdo and elsewhere in early January. Last week a single assailant in Copenhagen killed a Jewish security guard outside a synagogue and a Danish filmmaker attending a free speech event.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Coincidentally, I was reading Cat Steven’s (Yusuf Islam’s) wiki page earlier today and I never realized how dedicated to peace he actually is. I’m ashamed to admit I’d previously bought into the media lies that he’d supported the fatwa against Salmon Rushdie back in 89 when he actually didn’t. My thanks to all these peaceful people for sharing this song with us, the world surely needs it.
Is there video anywhere? I couldn’t find anything on you tube.
Wait. I watch Bill Maher and Fox News and I was led to believe that MUSLIMS ARE NATURAL TERRORISTS. It is scientifically impossible for people to believe in peace and love and follow Islam.
Unless… everything Bill Maher and Fox News said about Islam is… wrong.
Mind blown.
“We do not want individuals to define what Islam is for the rest of us.” — Zeeshan Abdullah
Wow. Just wow. At a synagogue, yet. Say it ain’t so, right?
Yeah, I know. I’m trippin.
It’s hardly limited to there. But hey, that’s OK. A wise man once said, “he who rides high horse gets hit by low branch.” Been there, done that myself, more times than I’d care to admit.
Actions speak louder than words. And in this case, more eloquently too.
All these folks wouldn’t say this, but I can: this is a giant FU to terrorists and those in the US who willfully equate a religion with terrorism. (Looking at you, Rudy Giuliani and the GOP and over at you, too, Bill Maher).