– This must be a joke? That was the first reaction of the deputy chairman of the Buskerud immigrant council, Nazim Rizvi. There are 104,000 people living in Drammen. 25 percent of them have a background that is not Norwegian. The temperature was very high when Drammen’s elected officials had to decide how many refugees they can accept this year – and not least where they come from. The political majority believed that the municipality cannot accept as many as the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) put forward, 340 refugees. Municipal director Trude Andresen recommended 250. But the four cooperation parties Høyre, Frp, KrF and the Pensioners’ Party thought this was too high – and adjusted the number down to 125. Then the majority parties submitted a demand that Drammen should only accept refugees from Ukraine, according to Drammens Tidende . Refugees in Norway Over 33,000 refugees were resettled across the country in 2023. This is the highest number in one year. So far, Norway has had 65,000 residents in the last two years. The authorities have requested Norwegian municipalities to resettle 37,000 refugees in 2024. Over 29,000 of those resettled in Norway in 2023 were Ukrainian refugees with temporary collective protection. For the second year in a row, it was the counties of Viken and Vestland that settled the most in number. (Source: The Government) – Have not asked to be favored news has spoken to sources on all sides of the inflamed conflict. Rizvi and head of the immigrant council, Bijan Gharahkhani, believe the decision is a negative signal to the diverse city. – Isn’t it good that Ukrainian refugees are given priority? – All refugees who need help must be prioritized regardless of their country of origin. Pitting groups against each other, not least against the Ukrainian refugees – they have not asked to be favoured. It is sad in every way. Bijan Gharahkhani (left) and Nazim Rizvi, respectively chairman and deputy chairman of the Buskerud immigrant council, are frightened by the decision in the city. Photo: Balsharan Pal Kaur / news They emphasize that refugees are people in crisis, and that one should not make a selection on the basis of which country they come from. – We must start thinking that Norway is a diverse society. We have to think about the signals we send – also nationally, says Gharahkhani. – Is it a racist decision? – Those who have presented this are not racists. The decision is a signal of discrimination and segregation. Choosing one type of people over others, and justifying it with the fact that they are easier to integrate, is not acceptable, replies Rizvi. Strong political disagreement Jon Helgheim in the Buskerud Frp says the following: Jon Helgheim in the Progress Party. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen – We have had far too high a settlement over many years, and also believe that it is important to prioritize giving help where it can best be given. We have a very high proportion of non-Western immigrants in Drammen, have accepted many refugees over a long period of time, and we have major integration problems. He believes that refugees from Ukraine are easier to integrate. – We follow the Integration Act. It is based on settling the refugees where they have the most opportunity to be well integrated. – Then I must also say that when the state accepts refugees from the UN who are to be resettled in Norway, the state does exactly the same, and states clearly which nationalities it wants. – Racism set in the system Simon Nordanger is group leader for the Center Party in Drammen. He is clear about what he thinks about Helgheim’s plans. Simon Nordanger in the Center Party. Photo: Azad Razaei / news – Racism is systemic. The Discrimination Act, section 6, is clear that ethnicity is not allowed to be the basis of discrimination. That’s what this is. And discrimination is based on ethnicity, national origin, language, color and culture, he says. – This has nothing to do with racism and discrimination. This involves prioritizing within reasonable limits what is most likely to be successful with, Helgheim replies. – The Integration Act is one thing. Then comes the Discrimination Act, and the Discrimination Act is enshrined in the constitution, which clearly states that discrimination is not a law, Nordanger explains. Group leader for the Conservative Party in Drammen, Kristin Surlien, sees that they are pressuring the state. – We are challenging the priorities set by the state of Norway, and we are honest about that, she says. Group leader for Drammen Høyre, Kristin Surlien. Photo: Balsharan Pal Kaur / news – Will there be a united Conservative Party voting on Tuesday night? – In my group, in the Conservative Party, we are 17 representatives, and occasionally 17 different opinions, but that is part of the political debate, and then we have to agree on different things. Sorteringssamfunn Nordanger reacts to Helgheim saying “you talk about who is easiest to integrate”. – So people who you believe have a culture that is easier to integrate with than Norwegians should be prioritised? So, there is almost no difference between this and South Africa’s apartheid regime which said that “you are not allowed to swim in our swimming pool because you are the wrong colour, you come from the wrong culture”, says Nordanger. – Do you judge people based on where they come from, Helgheim? – No. The state does this here on a very factual basis when assessing who should be settled in Norway. Who has the best opportunity to contribute to good integration in Drammen? This is a completely normal way of thinking in administration, but there are some who have not fully understood how it works, Helgheim replies. – This policy is not about taking care of people or integrating people. It’s about sorting people based on which culture they prefer into Norwegian society, says Nordanger. Inflamed case news’s political commentator Lars Nehru Sand calls the case inflamed. Political commentator in news, Lars Nehru Sand. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news – It is not intended that these are groups that are to be pitted against each other, and then there is a local prioritization that must take place. Sand says the rule is that the municipalities must say how many refugees they can settle, and that it is a matter of distribution that is done on IMDi’s part. – It is a collective responsibility we have as a state to accept the refugees we have through international agreements and the practice of them. It is something Norway has to deal with. He notes that in the country’s municipalities there are different skills and different prerequisites to be able to contribute to a good integration of immigrants with slightly different prerequisites. – But the fact that the municipalities want something more than something else, that is what makes this case inflamed. On Tuesday, the matter will be finalized in the municipal council. The Immigrant Council will beforehand organize a protest action at Bragernes torg.
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– This must be a joke – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
