Stark Reminder for Norwegian Muslims to Vote Against Extremism

 The horrific and brutal crime that shook Norway on Sunday, August 24, 2025, sparked widespread shock in the community. The victim was a Muslim woman, Tamima Nibras Johar, of African descent, in her thirties. She was killed in broad daylight at her workplace, a youth care center in Oslo, by an 18-year-old of German descent who was a resident at the same center.

According to the police, the motives behind the crime were political and far-right extremist.
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Similar Crimes from Memory

This painful crime brings to mind a series of terrorist attacks that have targeted innocent people in this peaceful country, especially Muslim immigrants, motivated by hatred and right-wing extremism. The most prominent of these are:

• The Utøya and Breivik Attack, July 22, 2011: The terrorist Anders Breivik killed over 70 young men and women at a Labor Party youth camp. Many of the victims were of immigrant and Muslim backgrounds. The motive was racism and fear of what he called the "Islamic invasion."
• The Al-Noor Mosque Attack, August 10, 2019: A 21-year-old Norwegian man opened fire inside the mosque in Oslo, injuring one of its attendees, with the same far-right extremist motives.

After the Murder of Tamima Nibras... Norwegian Muslims Face the Challenge of Combating Extremism with the Electoral Vote

The Role of Muslims in Stopping These Crimes

Strikingly, the Al-Noor Mosque attack in 2019 occurred just before the local elections at the time. Similarly, this latest crime precedes the current parliamentary elections, for which early voting has already begun and the last day to vote is September 8, 2025.

It's as if history is repeating itself. So, what will we do?

The attack on the Al-Noor Mosque had a significant impact on the awareness of Muslims and immigrants. One of its results was a noticeable increase in engagement and participation in the elections, which helped weaken the far-right electorally.

Today, we face a similar responsibility and an extraordinary opportunity. Your vote is a trust, and your participation is a duty to protect your community, the future of your children, and to defend the values of peace and coexistence while rejecting hatred and racism.

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Participation is a Religious and National Duty

Muslims in this society are citizens like any others; they have rights and responsibilities. Their participation in elections is not only a national duty but also falls under the principle of cooperation for good, bringing benefit to society, and fending off harm. Allah Almighty says: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (Quran 5: 2).

Therefore, this participation is permissible in Islamic law, based on the principle of repelling harm and bringing benefits. In some cases, it may even rise to the level of an obligation if it is for the purpose of averting great, clear, and dangerous harm from Muslims and the community as a whole, such as the destructive and dangerous ideas of extremism, hatred, and terrorism that we suffer from in Norway and that are growing day by day, and which the far-right adopts.

Your Vote is a Trust... Widespread Calls for Norwegian Muslims to Participate in Elections to Protect Society

An Invitation to Participate

Let us be positive, active, and influential. Let us contribute to shaping the future of this country that we love and wish well for, like all other citizens, but as a significant and formidable force in the political equation.

May Allah have mercy on our sister Tamima Nibras Johar, forgive her, and accept her among the martyrs. May He grant solace to us, her family, her loved ones, and the entire community. And may her pure blood be a beacon that illuminates the path of truth for us and awakens in us the spirit of influence and responsibility.