But young Muslims in Norway interviewed for this article say, What? Jihad recruitment in Norway? Piffle! And even if there were, none of us would go for it! Go back to sleep!
This parallels statements by Muslim spokesmen in America. Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR said a few years back that in 20 years he'd never heard anything untoward in mosques in America: "I've never heard violence preached; I've never heard anti-Semitism or anti-Americanism preached." Yet the Center for Religious Freedom report paints quite a different picture of mosques in America.
"Extremists target local youth," from Aftenposten (thanks to all who sent this in):
The head of Norway's intelligence and security agency believes young, Norwegian muslims are being targeted by militant extremists to carry out terrorist attacks and holy war overseas.Jørn Holme, Norway's boss for spies and bodyguards, is convinced Muslim extremists are trying to recruit youth in Norway for terrorist operations overseas.
Jørn Holme, chief of The Norwegian Police Security Service (Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste PST), confirmed for the first time on Monday that active recruiting efforts are being carried out by older, militant extremists in Norway. [...]
"We've had reports about older, manipulative Islamic extremists here in the country, who have tried to motivate youth to take part in jihad (holy war) attacks abroad," he told Aftenposten. He said PST is taking the reports seriously. [...]
That surprised several muslim youth leaders interviewed by Aftenposten. They claimed they weren't aware of any terrorist recruiting efforts, and doubted they would succeed in Norway.
Fears downplayed
"Jørn Holme must be talking about another world than the one I'm in," said Kim Abdul Karim at an Islamic association's locale in Oslo. "I've been active in muslim circles both in Oslo and other Norwegian cities, and I've never heard about this."
Suleman Ijaz said he was also surprised. "Muslims know well that terror isn't in accordance with the religion," he said.
Mariam Javed, leader of the Muslim Students' Association in Norway, said Norwegian youth are too well-informed to fall for recruiting efforts, and he thinks they'd report any to PST.
"Jørn Holme must be talking about another world than the one I'm in," said Kim Abdul Karim at an Islamic association's locale in Oslo. 'I've been active in muslim circles both in Oslo and other Norwegian cities, and I've never heard about this.'"
Suleman Ijaz said he was also surprised. 'Muslims know well that terror isn't in accordance with the religion,' he said.
Mariam Javed, leader of the Muslim Students' Association in Norway, said Norwegian youth are too well-informed to fall for recruiting efforts, and he thinks they'd report any to PST."
-- from the article above
All three -- Kim Abdul Karim, Suleman Ijaz, and Mariam Javed -- could have told the truth. They chose instead to lie. For it is false for Kim Abdul Karim to say that he has been "active in Muslim circles" and has "never heard" about such things; it is lying nonsense for Suleman Ijza to say that "terror isn't in accorance with the religion." It is absurd for Mariam Javed to say that he thinks Muslims who are the subjectof these "radicalization" efforts would "report any to PST [the Norwegian security service]"
These reactions entitle the PST to regard with deep suspicion all three -- Kim Abdul Karim, Suleman Ijaz, and Mariam Javed.
They had a choice. They could have admitted the truth, and deplored it. But instead they chose to lie. Embarrassment, or something else? It hardly matters.
Denial. It's not just a river in Egypt.
Suleman Ijaz said he was also surprised. "Muslims know well that terror isn't in accordance with the religion," he said.
Of course it isn't, to think it is, makes one a racist, Islamophobic bigot...at least in the eye's of the demented...