Solberg said the speech shows why the Progress Party is not part of any government

OSLO , July 25 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – A staunch pro-Israel Norwegian politician was still coming under fire Sunday, July 25, for a bitter attack on Muslims, their faith and their Prophet, a rare occasion in a society known for its tolerance and strong pro-Palestinian lobbies.

In a letter published by the daily Aftenposten, the ambassadors of Pakistan , Indonesia , Egypt and Morocco , in addition to the Tunisian charge d'affaires, have criticized the leader of the right wing Progress Party Carl I. Hagen.

" Hagen has insulted 1.3 billion Muslims, and offended the principles of tolerance and freedom on which the Norwegian society is built," the diplomats wrote in their letter, according to the daily's English version web site.

"We expect that our rights to practice Islam will be respected by those who do not share our faith, and that we do not have to meet the ugly threat of religious intolerance from any quarter."

The diplomatic response, described by the daily as a "very unusual" comment from foreign diplomats on Norwegian domestic affairs, was the latest in a string of furious responses from Norwegian politicians, party leaders, Muslim community leaders as well as the local press.

Hagen , known for his long record of provocative statements, made the stir Tuesday, July 13, while speaking at the summer festival of the pro-Israel Christian Society "Living Word" in Bergen .

He said, among other things, that Muslims use children as "suicide bombers" in the effort to convert the world to Islam.

Barrage Of Criticism

Hagen claimed Muslims use their children as "suicide bombers" in the effort to convert the world to Islam.

Norwegian theologian at the University of Oslo , Oddbjoern Leirvik, had compared Hagen 's speech "to the agitation against the Jews in the 1930s," reported Aftenposten.

"The Progress Party had tried to 'play its Muslim card' in different election campaigns, but this time I feel Hagen really overstepped the mark," Leirvik told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg said the speech shows why the Progress Party is not part of any government.

"It is a bit dangerous if we picture all Muslims as terrorists," Solberg told the NRK.

She stopped short of terming Hagen 's speech as racist, but added that it "shows hostility towards Islam as a religion."

She further said that Hagen 's attitude "does not make it simpler for the Conservatives to cooperate with the Progress Party," according to NRK.

Afshan Rafiq, a member of Parliament from the Conservatives, blasted Hagen for "stigmatizing an entire religion."

An official from the Christian Democrats also said Hagen "crossed the line when he didn't only attack fundamentalists, but also the prophet Mohammad."

Norway 's only Muslim sheriff, Jens Vidar Bjørkedal, told the local paper VG he was shaken by Hagen 's remarks.

"I hope he never gets into the government," he said. "I'm shocked that a leading politician can say such things."

Acting leader of the Center against Ethnic Discrimination, Ella Ghosh, told NRK that they are tired of Hagen 's frequent anti-Muslim statements, and that his behavior this time cannot be defended.

Legal Action

Citing possible law suits against him by at least one anti-discrimination organization and two Muslims, NRK said Hagen may now be reported to the police for anti-Muslim agitation.

Two Muslims from Pakistan , now living in Oslo , told the daily Dagbladet they have filed police charges against Hagen for violating Norway 's law against blasphemy.

"We can't accept an attack of this caliber," Ashfaq Sadiq told the paper. "We will fight for a clear line in society that defends political and religious freedom."

Hagen , on his part, retorted by saying that Norway also protects freedom of speech, adding that his remarks applied to fundamentalists, "not all Muslims."

No Regrets

Two days after he made the anti-Islam remarks, Hagen said he "has no regrets for publicly relating his fears of Islamic fundamentalists, or his belief that Christians should oppose Islamic inroads into Europe ."

Still, he tried to fend off the barrage of criticism, by saying he'll "consider an invitation" from an Islamic advisory council in Norway to learn more about the religion.

Joining the chorus of Hagen 's critics, the council (Islamsk Råd Norge, IRN) accused Hagen of being ignorant about Islam.

They flatly denied Hagen 's claim that Muslims exploit children in their efforts to "Islamify" the world.

IRN is also encouraging other Norwegian politicians to attend a course clarifying Islamic values and principles.

"We have extended several invitations to politicians before," IRN leader Mohammad Hamdan told Aftenposten Thursday July 15.

"Neither Carl I Hagen nor others from his party have ever come."

Pro-Israel

Hagen has devoted the bulk of his controversial speech to defend Israel , a distinct minority position among Norwegian politicians, according to Norwaypost website which posted an English translation of the speech.

"It is so easy for us in Norway , Sweden , and other countries, to lecture Israel on how it should solve its problems. And then if they do follow our advice, and Israel is destroyed, we will have the luxury of saying: 'We were wrong. How very, very sad.'

"The Israelis cannot do that. They've learned a painful lesson from all their wars and from all that they've experienced over the last 50 years. They have learned never to trust a paper and a signature, when there are terrorists on the other side, ready to carry out attacks against you."

He then moved on to attack not only what he termed "fundamentalist Muslims", but also Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him], the Noble Qur'an and Islam itself as a religion.

Hagen claimed that people should not "hold the Koran (Qur'an) and the Bible in equal esteem. Because the content of those books is different in many ways.

"We Christians are deeply concerned with children. Jesus said, 'let the small children come to me.' I can't imagine that Muhammad could have said the same thing. [laughter] If he had, it would have been 'Let the small children come to me, so I can exploit them in my struggle to Islamify the world.'"

"I can't see that this has anything in common with those concepts of justice and morality we have in Christianity."

He wondered how come that Norwegian congregations and organizations have sent missionaries to other countries, such as Pakistan and Turkey , to convert them to Christianity but have not done the same with Muslims coming to the country.