Islamic Council Norway
Encyclopedia
The Islamic Council Norway is an umbrella organisation for Muslim
congregations and organisations in Norway. Currently, it represents 41 congregations totalling about 60.000 members. The offices are located in Oslo
. It is a member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research
(ECFR).
. The organisation's membership counts Muslim congregations centered around several different immigrant groups, notably Albanian, Bosnian, Iraqi and Pakistani congregations, as well as mosques with congregations that do not center around specific ethnic groups. Its stated mission is to
The council's work is organised in issue-specific committees, such as a hilal committee that works to advice Norwegian Muslims on how the Islamic calendar
should be interpreted in Norway, a Halal
committe that oversees ritual slaughtering, in accordance with animal welfare laws, at designated Norwegian meat processing plants mainly owned by Nortura
, and a burial committee, which collaborates with Norwegian Church Authorities
to establish and maintain Muslim cemeteries
.
, although he encouraged Muslims not to commit such acts. The statements were heavily criticised by leading Norwegian Muslim politicians and academics. Mukhtar was allowed to keep the post as spokesman. The council's general secretary asserted that his statement had come "after being given the same question three or four times" and that he was "misunderstood", while also making it clear that the council condemned the murder of van Gogh.
in 2006 (as well as the burning of Norwegian flags), but regarded the issue as closed when editor Vebjørn Selbekk
of Magazinet apologized for their reprinting of the cartoons.
, instead deferring the matter to the European Fatwa Council
(ECFR). The Council's leader, Senaid Kobilica, stressed his personal opposition to the death penalty, but acknowledged that some may interpret Islamic texts differently. Homosexual and lesbian activist groups protested against the council's refusal to deplore the death penalty. The organisation has since made it fully clear that it does not support the death penalty for homosexual practice, and issued a joint statement to that point, with the Norwegian National Association for Lesbian and Gay Liberation
, Norway's main association for HLBT persons.
, after he praised the Holocaust as "a divine punishment for the Jews." However, the council's leader did issue a statement where al-Qaradawis praise of Holocaust was deemed "unacceptable", and promised that the council would pursue the matter through its membership in the ECFR.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
congregations and organisations in Norway. Currently, it represents 41 congregations totalling about 60.000 members. The offices are located in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. It is a member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research
European Council for Fatwa and Research
The European Council for Fatwa and Research is a Dublin-based private foundation, founded in London on 29 March - 30 March 1997 on the initiative of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe...
(ECFR).
Organization
The Islamic Council Norway was founded on 22 October 1993. Since 2006, it has received funds from the Norwegian Ministry of CultureMinistry of Culture (Norway)
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Culture is responsible for cultural policy, regulations and other matters related to the media and sports. The ministry was established in 1982, at which time it was called the Ministry of Cultural and Scientific Affairs. Until then, the Ministry of Church and...
. The organisation's membership counts Muslim congregations centered around several different immigrant groups, notably Albanian, Bosnian, Iraqi and Pakistani congregations, as well as mosques with congregations that do not center around specific ethnic groups. Its stated mission is to
- engage in work that allows Norwegian Muslims to live according to Islamic teachings within the general Norwegian society and to establish a Norwegian Muslim identity
- promote solidarity among Norwegian Muslims and further the interests and rights of the member organizations
- act as a mediary and dialogue partner to create mutual understanding and respect between Norwegian Muslims and non-Muslims, with respect to religion, culture and moral values
Activities
The organisation has since its foundation been in active dialogue with the Inter-Church Council of the Church of Norway (Mellomkirkelig råd for Den norske kirke).The council's work is organised in issue-specific committees, such as a hilal committee that works to advice Norwegian Muslims on how the Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
should be interpreted in Norway, a Halal
Halal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
committe that oversees ritual slaughtering, in accordance with animal welfare laws, at designated Norwegian meat processing plants mainly owned by Nortura
Nortura
Nortura is a Norwegian agricultural cooperative that operates slaughterhouses and other processing plants related to meat and eggs. The company was created as a merger between Gilde Norsk Kjøtt and Prior Norge in 2006, and has head offices in Oslo...
, and a burial committee, which collaborates with Norwegian Church Authorities
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
to establish and maintain Muslim cemeteries
Cemetary
A cemetery is land reserved for human remains.Cemetery may also refer to:*Cemetery , an album by Deja Voodoo*Cemetery , a song by Silverchair*Cemetary , a Swedish metal band...
.
Theo van Ghogh
In 2004, the spokesman for the organisation, Zahid Mukhtar, voiced "understanding" for the murder of Theo van GoghTheo van Gogh (film director)
Theodoor "Theo" van Gogh was a Dutch film director, film producer, columnist, author and actor.Van Gogh worked with the Somali-born writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali to produce the film Submission, which criticized the treatment of women in Islam and aroused controversy among Muslims...
, although he encouraged Muslims not to commit such acts. The statements were heavily criticised by leading Norwegian Muslim politicians and academics. Mukhtar was allowed to keep the post as spokesman. The council's general secretary asserted that his statement had come "after being given the same question three or four times" and that he was "misunderstood", while also making it clear that the council condemned the murder of van Gogh.
Mohammad cartoons
The Islamic Council Norway condemned the printing of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoonsJyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
in 2006 (as well as the burning of Norwegian flags), but regarded the issue as closed when editor Vebjørn Selbekk
Vebjørn Selbekk
Vebjørn K. Selbekk is a Norwegian newspaper editor and journalist. Selbekk became widely known in Norway when he as a chief editor of the conservative Protestant Norwegian newspaper Magazinet January 9, 2006 was one of the first to reprint the Muhammad cartoons.Vebjørn Selbekk grew up in Meråker...
of Magazinet apologized for their reprinting of the cartoons.
Homosexuality
In 2008 the council met protest for an alleged refusal to take a stance against death penalty for homosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, instead deferring the matter to the European Fatwa Council
European Council for Fatwa and Research
The European Council for Fatwa and Research is a Dublin-based private foundation, founded in London on 29 March - 30 March 1997 on the initiative of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe...
(ECFR). The Council's leader, Senaid Kobilica, stressed his personal opposition to the death penalty, but acknowledged that some may interpret Islamic texts differently. Homosexual and lesbian activist groups protested against the council's refusal to deplore the death penalty. The organisation has since made it fully clear that it does not support the death penalty for homosexual practice, and issued a joint statement to that point, with the Norwegian National Association for Lesbian and Gay Liberation
Norwegian National Association for Lesbian and Gay Liberation
Landsforeningen for lesbisk og homofil frigjøring is a Norwegian "working politically and socially so that those who are gay, lesbian and bisexual can live openly without fear of being ostracized, discriminated, or harassed."The organization had its early beginnings in 1949, when the Danish...
, Norway's main association for HLBT persons.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi
The Islamic Council Norway was criticised in 2009 when, according to some sources, it refused to distance itself or comment on the leader of the ECFR, Yusuf al-QaradawiYusuf al-Qaradawi
Yusuf al-Qaradawi is a controversial Egyptian Islamic theologian. He is best known for his programme, ash-Shariah wal-Hayat , broadcast on Al Jazeera, which has an estimated audience of 60 million worldwide...
, after he praised the Holocaust as "a divine punishment for the Jews." However, the council's leader did issue a statement where al-Qaradawis praise of Holocaust was deemed "unacceptable", and promised that the council would pursue the matter through its membership in the ECFR.