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2 men arrested in Norway after attack on critic of Islam
Police arrested two men Monday on suspicion of assaulting an outspoken critic of Islam after she publicly called for a revision of the Quran's view of women.
| Noor, who is deputy leader of a Somali women's group in Norway, said she was assaulted by seven or eight Somali men outside an Oslo pub in the early hours of Thursday morning. The attack came after Norwegian media published an interview with her on April 10, in which she said it was time for Islam to revise its view of women. |
Kadra Noor, 26, emerged into the public spotlight in 2000, when her secret recordings of imams in Norway supporting female circumcision, contrary to some of their public statements, was aired as part of a national television documentary. Noor, who is deputy leader of a Somali women's group in Norway, said she was assaulted by seven or eight Somali men outside an Oslo pub in the early hours of Thursday morning. The attack came after Norwegian media published an interview with her on April 10, in which she said it was time for Islam to revise its view of women. "The Quran's view of women should be interpreted again," she was quoted as telling Norway's largest newspaper, Verdens Gang. "I miss a debate over the rights and duties modern Muslim women have."
Noor and other witnesses said the attackers, some shouting religious slogans, knocked Noor down, surrounded her and kicked her. She suffered cracked ribs and other injuries. "I was terrified. While I lay on the asphalt, they kicked me and screamed that I had offended the Quran," she was quoted as telling VG after the attack. She told the newspaper she was certain the attack was motivated by her comments in the news media.
Police said two men in their 20s were arrested in Oslo on suspicion of gross assault and battery against Noor. The two, whose names were withheld, were arrested after a witness recognized them and called the police. The Islamic Council in Norway piously condemned the attack.
Posted by: anonymous5089 2007-04-17 |
