“You have nothing to do in this country” The words came from a strange man in the middle of central Bergen. He continued: “You are Muslims. We live in the West. You take our money. You live off us” He had been staring at her on the bus beforehand. Followed her when she got off. Zahraa Sahib filmed everything. – He came very close to me, Sahib has previously told news. On Monday, the trial against the 77-year-old man went to Hordaland district court. On Wednesday, it became known that the man was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence and a fine of NOK 5,000, the defender told news. Zahra Sahib reacted spontaneously and filmed the man’s racist statements. Got support on Instagram Zahraa Sahib is a Norwegian citizen. She was born in Baghdad, Iraq, but grew up in Norway. After the incident, she posted the video she filmed on Instagram. There she received support and feedback from known and unknown people. – My goal was for him to understand that what he did was not right and that he should not do something like that again, she has previously told news. Has pleaded guilty After news wrote about the case, the man reported himself to the police. Now the district court has sentenced the man to 21 days’ suspended imprisonment. He is further sentenced to a fine of NOK 5,000. This is what the man’s defender, Marius Wesenberg, told news. Police prosecutor Linn Mari Søfteland asked for a suspended sentence and a fine. – The defendant was upset and has apologised, she says. The police prioritize cases dealing with hate crime. The cases mostly end up in court, if they are reported, claims the police attorney. – Here it was the defendant who reported himself. We are happy about that, so that we got an end to the case, she says. Police attorney Linn Mari Søfteland says that cases involving hate crimes generally end up in court if they are reported. Photo: Synne Lykkebø Hafsaas / news – Glad the case ended up in court Nooshin Zaery in Vestland’s immigration council is very happy that this case has ended up in court. – I hope it can be a good example that this is not okay, but serious. This shows that the system can intervene, says Zaery. She points out that this affects the everyday lives of those who experience similar events as Sahib. – Unfortunately, it is everyday for most of us to experience this here. You don’t feel safe. Every time you leave your home, you have to hope that you don’t experience something like that. Zaery emphasizes that not everyone can be expected to be as tough as Sahib and dare to document the events. She believes everyone has a responsibility. – It is every citizen’s social responsibility to intervene and say that this is not okay. We are fellow human beings and citizens of Bergen. It must be safe to go out. – Can’t understand why the man’s defender, Marius Wesenberg, says that the incident happened because his client “had a bad day”. – He can’t quite understand that he said the things he said. He lies flat, he says. The case would never have ended up in court, if the man himself had not come forward, believes Wesenberg. – He thinks the case has taken an awfully long time, which has been a burden for him. He is happy that it is now coming to an end. The accused man does not know why he expressed himself in this way, according to the defender. – He explains that he has nothing against Islam and Muslims, and he cannot quite understand why he said these things, says Wesenberg. The man’s defender, Marius Wesenberg, says that his client has nothing against sludge and Muslims. Photo: Synne Lykkebø Hafsaas / news Several cases were dropped Last year, 22 cases of hate speech were reported in the West police district. Seven of the cases ended in prosecution. Several cases were dropped due to a lack of evidence or information about the perpetrator. This case first ended up in the conflict council, before it ended up in court.
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Zahraa (21) was exposed to racism on the open street in Bergen – news Vestland
