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March 11, 2006
Norway: Politician In Mosque Violence Must Come Clean
We reported on the problems facing the Markazi Jamaat Ahle Sunnat mosque in Gronland district in Oslo. On March 3, at least five people were injured in fighting which broke out during Friday evening prayers. The injured included Malik Mohammad Raza, the imam.
Mr Raza claimed that a local Labour party politician, Khalid Mahmood (pictured) had been one of those who attacked him. Mahmod, for his part, counter-claimed that he had been attacked by a man with a knife, who fled in a taxi. Police announced that there was no evidence to back up the politician's claim of being attacked.
On March 6 we reported that five people had been taken into custody, and the following day we described how the administrator of Oslo and Akershus County warned on national TV that if illegal activity was proved at the mosque, which caters to the spiritual needs of 6,000 mainly Pakistani Muslims, state funding to the institution could be stopped.
On March 9 we related the news that all of the suspects in custody had been released by the police.
Today, Aftenposten reports that Khalid Mahmood must now explain his role in the fracas at the mosque.
Rune Gerhardse, head of the Labour Party in Oslo's city council told the newspaper Dagsavisen: "With the dimensions this case has taken on, and the many different accusations flying, I will ask Mahmood to give a complete briefing."
He would not say if the politician's status had been damaged by association with the violence, but claimed: "Khalid has for many years been a trusted colleague and I want to hear his version. First after he has explained the story behind this and what happened can I have an opinion about it."
On the ferocity involved in the incident, Gerhardsen said: "It looks dramatic, but one mustn't forget that there are often tough conflicts in religious communities, like the dispute around the appointment of the bishop in Oslo last year. With the clear difference that there no one went around hitting with iron bars."
For his part, Mahmood stated: "The accusations of violence are groundless. I am sure the police investigation will bear this out since there are many witnesses. I hope this doesn't damage the party, because it has absolutely nothing to do with politics."
One wonders if a politician does not think being involved in violence, and making publicised but unsubstantiated claims about being a victim of such violence, what this does involve?
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 11, 2006 11:35 PM
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