The group has been created on Facebook with the name of "Fredens Ring" (The ring of Peace) and will meet on Saturday outside a synagogue in Oslo as a reaction to the recent attacks in France and Denmark.
The group says that the principles of Islam transcend denominational barriers in order to protect people, whichever faith they belong to.
“Islam is to rise above hate and never sink at the same level as the haters. [We] Muslims wish to show that we take deep exception to all forms of hatred of Jews, and that we are there to support them. This is why we shall be forming a human ring around the synagogue,” they write on their Facebook page.
Organiser Hajrah Arshad said to Vårt Land that they have taken this initiative as both “fellow human beings and Muslims in Norway to show that Muslims distance themselves from the anti-Semitism which Jews encounter daily.”
“We’ve received lots of support and empathy from many quarters, which is heartening. This signals to us that we’re not alone, and it diminishes the fear. It’s easy to fall victim to fear when one is alone, one is stronger when together,” Jewish community in Oslo spokesperson Ervind Kohn said.
Talking to TV2, a 17-year-old participant said she wants to do this as a Norwegian Muslim as she is tired of the prejudices and therefore to combat prejudices. She thinks it’s high time that Jews and Muslims unite to show solidarity.
I think it is important that the Muslims rise up and show solidarity at a time when Jews are under attack in Europe. If someone wants to attack the synagogue, they need to step over us first, says social commentator Yousef Assidiq to TV2.
This week has seen Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg visit the synagogue, the street outside it being closed off for an initial period of two years, and the synagogue in Trondheim upping security measures following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Copenhagen.
Saturday’s event in Oslo starts at 6:30 pm local time.
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