2009 Oslo riots
Encyclopedia
The 2008–2009 Anti-Israel riots in Norway were a series of violent anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests by Muslims
that took place outside the Israel
i embassy and the Storting in Oslo
during late December 2008 and January 2009 amidst the Gaza War between Israel and Palestinian militant groups. On several occasions there were clashes between rioters and police as the protesters attacked civilians and destroyed private and public property. More than 160 people were detained, a majority of foreign descent. A Norwegian non-Jewish pro-Israel protester was attacked and injured by anti-Israel protesters shouting "take him, he's a Jew", "fucking Jew" and "allahu akbar
". Among other slogans, protesters shouted "Death to the Jews," "Kill the Jews" and "Slaughter the Jews" in Arabic.
s and rocks at the embassy and the police
. The police arrested four youths of Arab descent aged 16–25.
On 4 January 2009, hundreds demonstrated against Israel outside the Storting and then moved to the Israeli embassy in Parkveien. Members of the crowd grew violent, and again the police were called in. The demonstrations was dispersed by firing tear gas.
On 8 January there was a legal pro-Israel demonstration outside the Storting. A force of 200 policemen were stationed in the area of Spikersuppa
. Before the demonstration the police said that they were worried about trouble and riots. Because a prominent politician, Siv Jensen
, was scheduled to give a speech a pro-Israel speech, The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST)
stated that measures had been taken to insure Jensen's safety.
In the middle of Jensen's speech, pro-Palestinian activists started throwing rocks at pro-Israeli demonstrators. Jensen was forced to leave the podium. The police used tear gas when the rioters attacked a bus that tried to evacuate pro-Israeli activists from the area, including a large number of elderly demonstrators.
A Norwegian non-Jewish pro-Israel protester was attacked and injured by anti-Israel protesters while shouting "take him, he's a Jew", "fucking Jew" and "allahu akbar
".
Among other slogans, protesters shouted "Death to the Jews," "Kill the Jews" and "Slaughter the Jews" in Arabic.
According to politicians in the Storting, people tried to seek refuge inside the building, but they had to lock the doors because of the tear gas. At least four McDonald's
restaurants were destroyed in the riots because of a rumor spread by text message that all the money McDonald's earned that day would go to support Israel. This was later confirmed to be a hoax.
(around 1300 USD).
Islam in Norway
Islam is the largest minority religion in Norway, which consist between 2.0% and 3.4% of the population. In 2007, government statistics registered 79,068 members of Islamic congregations in Norway, about 10% more than in 2006. 56% lived in the counties of Oslo and Akershus...
that took place outside the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i embassy and the Storting in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
during late December 2008 and January 2009 amidst the Gaza War between Israel and Palestinian militant groups. On several occasions there were clashes between rioters and police as the protesters attacked civilians and destroyed private and public property. More than 160 people were detained, a majority of foreign descent. A Norwegian non-Jewish pro-Israel protester was attacked and injured by anti-Israel protesters shouting "take him, he's a Jew", "fucking Jew" and "allahu akbar
Takbir
The Takbīr or Tekbir is the Arabic term for the phrase ' . It is usually translated "God is [the] Greatest," or "God is Great". It is a common Islamic Arabic expression...
". Among other slogans, protesters shouted "Death to the Jews," "Kill the Jews" and "Slaughter the Jews" in Arabic.
Timeline
A peaceful demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in December 2008 became violent when Muslim Arab youths began throwing Molotov cocktailMolotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
s and rocks at the embassy and the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. The police arrested four youths of Arab descent aged 16–25.
On 4 January 2009, hundreds demonstrated against Israel outside the Storting and then moved to the Israeli embassy in Parkveien. Members of the crowd grew violent, and again the police were called in. The demonstrations was dispersed by firing tear gas.
On 8 January there was a legal pro-Israel demonstration outside the Storting. A force of 200 policemen were stationed in the area of Spikersuppa
Parks and open spaces in Oslo
Parks and open spaces are an integral part of the landscape of Oslo, the capital and largest city of Norway. The various parks and open spaces are interconnected by paths so that the city's inhabitants can walk between them....
. Before the demonstration the police said that they were worried about trouble and riots. Because a prominent politician, Siv Jensen
Siv Jensen
Siv Jensen is a Norwegian conservative-liberal politician, and the current leader of the Progress Party. She was the Progress Party's candidate for Prime Minister in the 2009 parliamentary election.-Early and personal life:...
, was scheduled to give a speech a pro-Israel speech, The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST)
Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste
The Norwegian Police Security Service is the police security agency of Norway, somewhat comparable to the British MI5. The agency was previously known as POT , the name change was dictated by the Parliament of Norway on 2 June 2001.The service was established in 1936 or 1937...
stated that measures had been taken to insure Jensen's safety.
In the middle of Jensen's speech, pro-Palestinian activists started throwing rocks at pro-Israeli demonstrators. Jensen was forced to leave the podium. The police used tear gas when the rioters attacked a bus that tried to evacuate pro-Israeli activists from the area, including a large number of elderly demonstrators.
A Norwegian non-Jewish pro-Israel protester was attacked and injured by anti-Israel protesters while shouting "take him, he's a Jew", "fucking Jew" and "allahu akbar
Takbir
The Takbīr or Tekbir is the Arabic term for the phrase ' . It is usually translated "God is [the] Greatest," or "God is Great". It is a common Islamic Arabic expression...
".
Among other slogans, protesters shouted "Death to the Jews," "Kill the Jews" and "Slaughter the Jews" in Arabic.
According to politicians in the Storting, people tried to seek refuge inside the building, but they had to lock the doors because of the tear gas. At least four McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurants were destroyed in the riots because of a rumor spread by text message that all the money McDonald's earned that day would go to support Israel. This was later confirmed to be a hoax.
Arrests
The police arrested a total of 160 people during the riots, a majority of foreign descent, and 11 of whom were formally charged with violent behavior and damage to private and public property. The rest of the arrested pleaded not guilty to any charges. The police stated that they would investigate all the arrested and most of them would receive a fine of 9000 NOKNorwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
(around 1300 USD).