– I find that people stare at me, giving me dirty looks and some send comments to his neighbor. On the web I have been called “traitor” and compared to a “tyskertøs,” she continues.
The black shawl is tied tightly around her head and accentuates the bright face. Vollvik converted to Islam two years ago. She went from being a non-believer, to become practicing Muslim. She experimented with the hijab over a period of time. Today she uses it wherever she is. She finds it hard to get some understanding of the hijab is her choice – a choice that is important to her.
– In addition to the harassment I have also been labeled as oppressed and brainwashed. People often do not believe that I have chosen this because I think it is so Allah thinks I should dress, she says.
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Physical attack
Inger Furuseth, a professor of sociology at the University of Oslo, has recently examined young girls’ opinions about their hijab use. In conversation with Furuseth said several of the girls they often experienced proportionality because of the religious headwear used. Several of them said the harassment had become worse in recent years. Some of the girls had in addition to ugly remarks also experienced physical attacks. One had experienced that a man tried to rip off her nikab.
– I was surprised how much resistance these girls met. I think it is worrying that young girls can not walk alone on the street because they choose to go with religious headgear, said Furuseth.
She emphasizes that her research does not have a representative sample, but still believes the girls’ statements showcases a real problem.
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clergy driven by xenophobia
Vollvik hear very often from other Muslim girls how they have been verbally attacked on the street. She thinks it’s xenophobia behind much of the harassment.
– It seems that many people feel threatened by Islam and Muslims because they believe the Muslim religion destroys the Norwegian society, she said.
She thinks it’s sad about not Muslims can find a place in the Norwegian identity.
– I think it’s a lot of ignorance. Most people do not know what Islam is all about. In many ways that is quite similar to Christianity, but we show more clearly our faith in daily life, says Vollvik.
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Sharper fronts religion debate
Lars Laird Iversen, associate professor in the School of Theology, believes the harassment of young Muslims are experiencing is because Muslim symbols and actions are often linked to issues of domestic and identity, and not so much to religion and faith.
– It also leads to the exclusion and harassment. It is sad, says Iversen.
He believes it generally has become a sharper front in the religious debate in society today.
– This is both because the religious parties want more space to show who they are and what they do while there exists a more muscular secularism which would refer religion to the private sphere. It polarizes, says Iversen.
He believes people need to be more aware of how they express themselves in public debates. He believes there is too much generalization in the current wording.
– It’s okay to make sharp criticism in the press. But the debate carries very wrong place if you criticize all religious groups that all Christians or all Muslims, says Iversen.
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– Part of my identity
Vollvik think harassment against young Muslims is increasing because people are included on the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
– People often fails to distinguish religion from conflict and extremist opinions. I strongly opposes it IS doing, even though I am a Muslim, she said.
She has received the most proportionality online. She thinks it is eerie, but try to keep these lies at a distance, do not care about it.
– There is usually only people I do not know who writes bad things. I try not to let it go to me, she says.
To remove the hijab is not an option.
– I feel that the hijab is part of my identity. As a Muslim, I have always quest to meet my maker, not other people around me, says Silje Vollvik.
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