One Mosque in Tromsø — One Church in Mecca
A reader in Norway sends this delightful news about a display of uncommon common sense by the Norwegian government, translated from VG Nett/via Gates of Vienna:
Norway refuses to allow mosque-building millions from Saudi Arabia
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre [also known as “bin Gahr Støre” since he caved in and hung a newspaper’s editor-in-chief out to dry and ran around apologizing during the Mohammed cartoon crisis — translator] has made a surprising about-face today.
The Saudi government and a rich private person want to build mosques for tens of millions in Norway. They have the full right to do so, according to Norwegian law. However, there is a clause in the law that the Norwegian government has to approve the financial support.
The Foreign Ministry does not just refuse to accept the mosque-building contributions. In an answer to Tawfiiq Islamic Center, the Ministry writes: “It would be a paradox and unnatural to accept funding from sources in a country where there is no religious freedom”.
“We could just have said no, by principle the Foreign ministry doesn’t approve such a thing. But when we were asked, we used the opportunity to add that an acceptance would be a paradox while its punishable in Saudi Arabia to establish a Christian congregation,” says Jonas Gahr Støre to VG.
Equal treatment
The state secretary Espen Barth Eide is visiting Saudi Arabia today, and will discuss the topic of financial support.
“I know many of my European colleagues have the same problem, and Norway will bring the issue up in the European Council,” says Støre.
“Does this mean a limit may be put on the possibility of financial support for faith groups?”
Continue reading Jihad Finance: Every Mosque is a Claim for Territory