Iceland review - 2014, Page 69

ICELAND REVIEW 67
IsLAm
against Muslims appears to have increased in
recent years. “When I first came here, no one
cared what I believed but now Muslims are
being attacked systematically,” maintains Salmann.
“I find it unfair that I’m being held responsible
for things that happen in Afghanistan or Kenya.
Fortunately, we sense more support than preju-
dice.”
Among supporters of the new mosque are
Bjarni Randver Sigurvinsson and Toshiki Toma,
who represent the National Church of Iceland
at the Consultation Platform of Religious
Associations in Iceland (Samráðsvettvangur trú-
félaga), founded in 2006. They wrote in daily
newspaper Fréttablaðið on July 18, 2013 that it’s a
matter of human rights for Muslims in Iceland to
build a house of worship. They dismiss the views
expressed by Ólafur and Protest the Mosque in
Iceland as “ignorance, prejudice and intolerance,”
which must be counteracted with increased edu-
cation about different religions throughout the
entire school system.
port than opposition for the mosque, stating that
while the Facebook page founded by Protest the
Mosque in Iceland has received over 3,000 likes,
a page created in its support was quick to match
that number.
“I find it sad that the mosque has become such
a controversial issue and that it has prompted
people to say such ugly things about the religion.
Islam has very good teachings,” comments Dyah.
This is underlined by Ahmad Seddeeq, origi-
nally from Egypt, who was hired as Imam at the
Islamic Cultural Centre of Iceland in 2011. “The
real meaning of Islam is peace,” he states.
“The media unfairly associates some negative
stereotypes with Islam and these get stuck in
people’s minds. Once people learn about Islam
from true Muslims they change their views. So let
people learn about Islam from them. Actually, the
majority of Icelanders are understanding and tol-
erant. As an Imam, I’m always in front, and it’s my
role to help eradicate prejudice by clearing mis-
understandings spread by the media.” Prejudice
“The real meaning
of Islam is peace.”
ibrahim sverrir agnarsson, chair of the Muslim association of iceland, standing where iceland’s first mosque will soon be built, in the eastern part of the capital.
traditional prayer calls won’t be necessary, he says. “there’s no reason for us to be shouting at an empty bus station.”