Norway’s Muslim associations have announced they would distribute 10,000 copies of the Holy Quran with Norwegian translations in an effort to fight racism, hate and extremism.
According to the the Norwegian Muslim Arts and Culture Association reported, it will be a collaboration with the Islam Literature Association and the Minhajul Quran mosque.
“We want to respond to negative actions by spreading love and knowledge as taught by the Holy Quran,” said Muslim Arts and Culture Association in a statement, indicating that the copies would be handed out via the internet.
The decision comes after an extreme right-wing group tried to burn a copy of the holy book during a protest in Kristiansand, a city populated with migrants.
‘Stop the Islamisation of Norway (SION)’ members were prevented from the desecrating by police, however, the group’s leader threw the holy book in the garbage.
Turkey, Pakistan, Iran reacted strongly to the November 16 incident by issuing their formal condemnations.
After receiving reactions from the Muslim community, Norwegian Politician Jøran Kallmyr held a meeting with the Islam Council of Norway and assured them that “Norway has distanced itself from the anti-Islamic organisation and said it does not provide any support to this organisation.”
Kallmyr said that the Norwegian Muslim community’s safety was as important as the Norwegian citizens.
