Friday night, Hroar-William Wiik Adelsten and Kjetil Malm Hamlandsø were at the nightclub Gatsby in Bodø, together with a friend. The evening had started well, but eventually became very unpleasant. An adult, intoxicated man suddenly sat down at the same table as the couple. – His opening comment was: Are you gay the whole gang? That’s what Adelsten says. The couple experienced that the man was aggressive and drunk. They asked, “Does it have anything to say?” Then he replied, according to them: – Had it been up to me, you would have been shot. The case was first mentioned by Avisa Nordland and Bodø Nu. On Friday, the boyfriend and girlfriend Hroar Adelsten and Kjetil Malm Hamlandsø received several slang remarks due to their orientation. During a restaurant visit, a man is said to have called them “fucking gays” and further said that they should be shot. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news – Shocked – It turned a little black for me right away. I was tired and had been thinking all day about what had happened in Oslo (the terror outside the London pub, editor’s note). It was completely dark. I was shocked, says Adelsten. But it did not end there, says Malm Hamlandsø. – He thought we were a cult and a dictatorship that would take over the world. He believed that we could not lead the world with our way of life. Was filmed The two say that they tried to preserve their composure and find a way out of the situation. The aggressive man was eventually shown away by the staff. But soon came back and sat down again. When the man was finally escorted out of the place by the staff and other guests, he only became more aggressive – and then the situation shown in the film at the top of the case arose. Outside the fence at Gatsby, he shouted, among other things, “Fucking gays.” news has seen and heard an uncharged version of the video. – We have never experienced this type of discrimination before now. There has always been a fear of it, but it has never happened, Hamlandsø. DESPAIR: Hroar-William Wiik Adelsten says that it turned black for him when the man started inciting them in the open street. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news Priority with the police – Criminal acts that involve, among other things, this with sexual orientation is a priority area for the police. Therefore, we take the incident seriously. This is what police attorney Eirik Magnus Blomli at Nordland police district says. A criminal case has been opened for further investigation. Police attorney Eirik Magnus Blomli at Nordland police district. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news – If the suspect is charged and prosecuted, what is the penalty for the crime he is accused of? – As of now, a criminal case has been opened, and the further investigation will show whether a criminal incident has taken place, and if so, what the penalty framework will be. According to section 185, hate speech can be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to 3 years. ANGER: Here at the Gatsby restaurant, the couple was provoked in the worst way by the man. Photo: Kasper Holgersen / news Employee at the university The man who is now under investigation by the police is employed at Nord University in a teaching position. It is at the same place of study that Kjetil Malm Hamlandsø has studied at. – Those who work with education at such a high level expect us to be a role model. This is not to be a role model, he says. Andreas Førde, communications director at Nord, says that they have knowledge of the video in question, and are aware that the case is under investigation. He further says that the university distances itself from all forms of discrimination and harassment, and works actively to create an inclusive and diverse environment. – One of the university’s core values is respect, which means that everyone must be included regardless of ethnicity, orientation and disability. Førde will not comment on the further dialogue with the employee in question. – Reprehensible The man himself tells news that he regrets and asks for forgiveness. – What I said and did at Gatsby is completely reprehensible and not something I stand for. I am very sorry that I have frightened and offended many in this way. That I was drunk is no excuse, and makes me realize that I have to work on myself. – I ask all I have offended and intimidated, for forgiveness. Growing problem Cathrine Thorleifsson is a researcher at C-REX (Center for Extremism Research, Right-wing Extremism, Hate Crime and Political Violence) at the University of Oslo. She says the episode in Bodø is a shocking event. Cathrine Thorleifsson researches extremism. She says hatred of queers is a growing problem. Photo: Andreas Kleiberg – It is unacceptable and it is also punishable. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. Thorleifsson is the head of the government’s newly appointed extremist commission. She says incitement and harassment against queers is a growing problem both in Norway and internationally. – Research shows that one in five queers in Norway has experienced hate speech online or face to face. This is to a far greater extent than other groups in the population experience. Thorleifsson also points out that the number of reported cases based on sexual orientation has increased by 10 per cent in the last year. – Is it because people have become more proven in reporting? – In Norway, we probably see increased awareness where more people report incitement and harassment. At the same time, the police are concerned that there are large dark numbers. Many people find it very stressful to report these cases to the police, says Thorleifsson.
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Employees at Nord University are being investigated for incitement against homosexuals in Bodø – news Nordland
