Muslim Council reacts to Yunus plaque

Muslim Council reacts to a plaque in Stavanger

The Joint Muslim Council in Rogaland believes that a plaque with the name of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus should be removed from the ground in Stavanger. This is because the Nobel Prize laureate shares his name with the Prophet Muhammad.

“It is problematic that the name of a person, which many Muslims hold in high regard, can be stepped on in the Centre of Stavanger.” Spokesperson of the Joint Muslim Council Rogaland, Summer Ejaz, tells Rogalands Avis 

“This has been an issue that has been festering for several years,” Ejaz states. Ejaz is, additionally, a representative of the Conservative Party in Stavanger City Council.

Deputy Mayor of Stavanger Municipality, Bjørg Tysdal Moe (Christian Democrats), says that she is open to a political treatment of the matter.

Secretary-General of the Co-operation Council for Religious Communities, Ingrid Rosendorf Joys, is not convinced that the bronze plaque must be removed.

“I find it strange to think that a tribute to the Nobel laureate can, at the same time, be harassment of the Prophet,” she asserts.

Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work with micro-credit loans. There are also art installations of other Peace Prize laureates such as Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama and Al Gore in the city centre of Stavanger.

 

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Stavanger Frp reacts to the request

Leader of Stavanger Frp, Kristoffer Sivertsen, tells Rogalands Avis that the request from Islamic Joint Council Rogaland is violation hysteria.

“We cannot take into account all violations and every time someone is feeling offended,” he states.

One might wonder whether such thngs as jailing anybody by the name of Muhammad is offensive as well.

Religion historian and Expert on Islam, Kari Vogt, believes the statements by the Muslim Joint Council are peculiar. She is certain that this is not a common belief among Muslims. Vogt describes the Council’s proposal as excessive and far out.

“Very few will think that the Prophet Muhammad is being trampled on, and, thus, offended by this,” she explains.

There are art installations of other Nobel Peace Prize winners, such as Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama and Al Gore, in the City Centre as well.

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© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

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