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| Europe |
| Norwegian Muslim wants to be a Christian Democrat |
| 2002-08-15 |
| A Muslim lawyer has reportedly accused Norway's Christian Democrats (Kr.F) as being racist because the party does not allow non-Christian members to hold posts. Abid Raja says that he wants to play an active role in the Kr.F but was denied doing so because the party's regulations restrict posts to professed Christians, according to Norwegian daily Vart Land. Last week Raja gave up his role as spokesman for the World Islamic Mission in Oslo, which precluded him from joining a political party, but has found he can only become a Kr.F member. "The Christian Democratic Party is high on my list," he told the daily. Its policies on alcohol, drugs and social issues appealed to him. The Kr.F, which was founded in 1933, has been part of Norway's coalition governments since 1963. Its leader Kjell Magne Bondevik has been prime minister for the past five years. Raja said that the party was racist because the country's definition of racism included discrimination based upon religious faith. To me, it would make sense that if you're going to be a Christian Democrat, first you'd have to be a Christian and then you'd have to be a democrat. If you're going to be spokesman for the World Islamic Mission in Oslo, you have to be an Islamist, right? |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |