PST does not point to a concrete threat, but now warns against burning the Koran, for fear of what signals this could send to extreme Islamists. Believes that burning the Koran increases the risk of terrorism – We see that as the situation is now, we consider burning the Koran as something that could lead to Norway becoming more relevant as a target image for extreme Islamists. Then it is right for us to tell about the threat picture as we see it, says assistant chief of PST Hedvig Moe to news. Assistant head of PST Hedvig Moe believes that Koran burning contributes to increasing the risk of terrorism in Norway. Photo: news Demonstration was canceled Last week, Friday 3 February, the Islamophobic group Stop the Islamization of Norway (Sian) had plans to hold a demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Oslo. But the application was rejected by the police. Sian has for several years burned several Korans to show his opposition to Islam. Norwegian law, like all of Scandinavia, allows the burning of the Koran. Thus, PST does not want to tell the police districts how to react to anti-Islamic demonstrations. – What a police district should do is their assessment and decision. Our job is to tell and show what threat assessment is like. They take the broad assessment very well themselves. In our threat assessments, it is never the case that we directly recommend that an event be cancelled, carried out or moved. It is their decision, emphasizes Moe. A majority wants a ban on Koran burning A recent survey shows that almost half of the respondents, 44.5 per cent, think it should be forbidden to burn the Koran or other religious symbols. Only one in three respondents in this country believes it should be permitted to burn the Koran or other religious symbols, shows the survey carried out by InFact on behalf of Nettavisen. 33 per cent think it should be permitted to light religious symbols, while 22 per cent give “don’t know” as an answer. Ministry of Foreign Affairs changes travel advice The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has changed the travel advice for both Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, as a result of the Koran burnings. – Koran burnings in Europe have led to reactions in several countries. The risk of terrorist attacks against Western targets has increased. Be careful in places where many people gather, for example at public meeting places, tourist attractions, churches, synagogues, embassies and consulates, says the travel advice on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.
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Believes Koran burning can put Norwegians at risk – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
