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Mixed reaction over 'Muslim peace circle'

February 26, 2015 12:35
Last Sunday's solidarity rally outside Oslo's main synagogue

By

Nathalie Rothschild,

Nathalie Rothschild

1 min read

News that over 1,000 Muslims formed a "peace circle" around an Oslo synagogue on Saturday has attracted both praise and scepticism.

Billed as an act of solidarity with Norway's Jews after the Copenhagen attack, the initiative was celebrated on social media and by some Jewish leaders.

However, there have been claims that a vast majority of the crowd was made up of non-Muslims and that one of the organisers harbours antisemitic views.

A debate erupted on social media after someone who claimed to have attended the event said that there were only around 20 Muslims in the semi-circle and that the crowd of 1,300 consisted mainly of "ethnic Norwegians".