Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute to the Ring of Peace
The young Muslim initiators behind the Ring of Peace are awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for their unique demonstration that mobilised a large number of citizens to form a protective ring around the country’s Jews.
The initiators, consisting of a group of eight individuals between the ages of 17 and 37, are Zeeshan Abdullah, Hajrah Arshad, Ali Chishti, Atif Jamil, Morad Jarodi, Mudassar Mehmood, Thomas Holgersen Daher Naustdal and Hassan Raja.
The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute recognises remarkable efforts to promote free speech, often in connection with current events. Tributes are accompanied by a cash award of NOK 100 000.
The Tribute will be awarded at an event in the Fritt Ord Foundation’s premises at Uranienborgveien 2 in Oslo on Friday, 17 April 2015, at 1.00 p.m. Guri Hjeltnes, Trustee of the Fritt Ord Foundation, will award the Tribute. Hajrah Arshad will give an acceptance speech on behalf of the Ring of Peace initiative.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris and Copenhagen, the group behind the Ring of Peace has taken a stand against anti-Semitism, which they felt was gaining disquieting momentum. “Islam means protecting our brothers and sisters, regardless of their religion. Islam means being above hatred and never sinking to the same level as those who hate. Islam means defending each other. Muslims want to show that we are strongly opposed to all forms of anti-Semitism, and that we are there to support the Jews. We will therefore form a human ring around the synagogue on 21 February,” the group wrote on Facebook, urging everyone to come join them. Between 1.00 and 3.00 p.m., a multitude of people turned up to participate in this historic demonstration at the synagogue in Oslo. The initiative attracted a great deal of national and international attention.
The Fritt Ord Foundation is a private non-profit foundation that aspires to promote freedom of expression and public debate.
The Fritt Ord Foundation’s Board is comprised of Georg Fr. Rieber-Mohn (Chair), Grethe Brochmann (Deputy Chair), Christian Bjelland, Liv Bliksrud, Alexandra Bech Gjørv, Guri Hjeltnes, Frank Rossavik and Sigrun Slapgard.
See the list of previous recipients of the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute at: www.frittord.no/priser/fritt-ords-honnor
Contact:
Hajrah Arshad, Ring of Peace, Mobile: +47 970 25667
Guri Hjeltnes, Trustee of the Fritt Ord Foundation +47 464 10683
Bente Roalsvig, Project Director and Deputy Executive Director of the Fritt Ord Foundation, mobile: +47 916 13340
