An event that was meant to create a safe space for queers ended on Friday night with physical handling of the DJ and the use of discriminatory words. It was Subject who mentioned the matter first. A safe meeting place – I’m very sorry. Our main task was to create a safe meeting place. I feel that we have failed in our mission. That’s what writer Muna Jibril says. She is one of the organizers of the evening, which was held at the nightclub Godthåb på Grønland in Oslo. Together with two friends, she is behind the voluntary organization Comrades Inc. – We will primarily contribute with financial help to queer and transgender people. Now it has provided income for gender confirmation treatments, says Jibril. – We create events to create an environment and space where queer and trans people can feel safe. Many people showed up and enjoyed themselves at the event on Friday evening. Photo: Privat Was laid to rest The evening started well. A good summer evening in Oslo, with friends, acquaintances, music and dancing. Espen Iden was the last DJ out for the evening. He says that there was a good atmosphere until the clock struck 03.00. Then the guards were all on him to get him to turn off the music. – I say that I will finish playing. The plan was to finish playing that song and two more. Iden has worked as a DJ for over a decade, and says it is common to stop the music around 03.15, before the guests have to be out until 03.30. But he has witnessed many times before that the guards ask them to round off earlier. This also happens this evening. Several times the guards are away at his place, asking him to turn it off. – I think they come and fuss because they want to go home earlier. Finally, I say, in an irritated way, that I’ve been doing this for more than ten years – that I know how long I can last. – Then I will be put on the ground. A video shows that the DJ was dragged down from this stage at Godthåb and laid on the ground. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news Believes the watchman was attacked Proff Security AS was responsible for the guard this evening. They confirm that a conflict arose at 3 o’clock. – When the music had to be turned off at 03.00 on the night of Saturday in accordance with the pub regulations, there was a commotion. Some refused to leave the night club after our security guards had made guests and hired DJ aware that they had to leave the place, writes general manager May T. Kirkerud in an e-mail to news. – One of our security guards was physically attacked, when he had asked the DJ to turn off the music. The person who attacked was neutralized by being put on the ground. Other guests tried to prevent the guards from this job. DJ Espen Iden believes that the security company’s version of the sequence of events is not correct. He was never physical with anyone, he says. He claims that the only thing he did was to leave his place behind the DJ table and walk up to the stage to meet the guard. – It’s really the only thing I remember that they might have perceived as threatening. Iden admits that he was annoyed. But he denies having been physical, as the guards claim. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news Law to play after 3 On serving times and playing music, Oslo municipality writes in an e-mail to news: “Alcohol can never be served longer than until 03.00. It may be that some nightclubs have a house rule that the music must stop at the same time, but the Alcohol Act has no prohibition against playing music in the period between 03.00 – 03.30.” According to the general manager at Godthåb, Oda Horgen, there must be communication between security guards, employees and the DJ about when the music should be turned off. – Something that was clearly not done correctly on Friday 22 July, she says. – It is heartbreaking that this has happened with us. The reason I work in this industry is that I want to create places where people can be safe and have a free zone. On Friday, some experienced the opposite. It hurts us, says general manager at Godthåb, Oda Horgen. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news – Way over the line On Saturday, Proff Security urgently called a meeting. Both Horgen and a representative from Comrades Inc were present. – At this meeting we understood that there was agreement on the above description, writes Kirkerud in the security company to news. – No one at this meeting claimed that the guards had used disproportionate or illegal force. Horgen from Godthåb was not at work herself on Friday evening, but tells news that she is reacting to what she has been told and seen on videos. – I would like to make it clear that whatever the cause of this clash was, it was not handled well by Proff Security, and based on what I see in the photographic evidence and video, I consider it to be an unnecessary abuse of power and way over the line. The video news has gained access to shows that the DJ was dragged off the stage and put on the ground by several security guards. Discriminatory words news has gained access to a video of the incident. It shows several guards dragging the DJ off the stage. He lands on his back on the floor. Other guests crowd in and try to get the guards away. – They let me go, and I pull away, he says. – Then I go to collect my things. The one watchman stands there shaking with anger. “What’s wrong with you,” I ask. “Fucking sweepers,” he shouts at me. Now he is considering reporting the relationship. Proff Security says that both the company and the security guard who made the statement have apologized for this. – Derogatory and discriminatory language is not accepted in our company, which all employees are familiar with, writes Kirkerud. She says that on Monday they had a conversation with the watchman, and took him off duty until further notice. Espen Iden finds it uncomfortable to talk about the incident, but wants to stand up for the queer environment. – It feels unsafe – It feels unsafe and creates unrest, says Sultan Hadaddeen about the weekend’s incident. The event at Godthåb was the income for her. – People line up for an LGBTQ-friendly event. Then they face discrimination from the guards, who are responsible for protecting us. That is what causes unrest – that those in a position of power are the ones who discriminate by what they say and the way they handle the situation. There have been a lot of reactions on social media afterwards. Several queers write that they feel unsafe in the city – It’s sad. Our task is to make people feel safe when they are traveling in the city. We strongly distance ourselves from all forms of discrimination, writes Kirkerud to news. It creates insecurity when you encounter discrimination from people in a position of responsibility, Sultan Hadaddeen believes. Photo: Sigurd Fandango
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DJ was put on the ground and called “damn sweeper” by weights – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
