Words by President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani 

 

Your Royal Highness,

Prime Minister,

Chief Justice,

Nobody must be allowed to attack our freedom with intolerance, violence and hatred.

We have seen it before. Nothing builds bridges and unifies the Norwegian people more than an attack on our common freedom.

While I was on my way in to Oslo yesterday, my mother rang me and asked me if I could call somebody who was having a tough time.

This person was Saman. Saman is a family friend who works as a security guard at the London Pub. A job and a place he loves because he is so fond of the people he meets there.

That night he had to save and help people. Saman is a friend who put his own personal fear to one side in order to protect others against a cowardly attack.

Saman was crying and in a state of immeasurable grief. But he told me that he also felt ashamed. Because he happened to be born in the same country as the terrorist.

Dark times in the history of our nation have shown us that it isn’t about religion or the colour of one’s skin.

Evil is evil.

Hatred is hatred.

A terrorist is a cowardly terrorist.

Dear Norway,

We don’t yet know all the details.

What we do know is that our open and free Norwegian society has once again been the victim of a violent attack on individuals and on the community.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, someone chose to take up arms and to attack innocent people who were out celebrating love and freedom.

This is an act of hatred.

This year we have been celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Norway.

Last weekend, for the first time ever, the Storting raised the rainbow flag. This is an expression of where we – Norwegian society and the Norwegian people – stand.

It was supposed to be a week full of Norwegian values. It was supposed to be a public festival.

But now we as a nation are in mourning.

And as a nation, we mourn together. As a nation, we stand up for each other and for love. As a nation, we always call hatred to account. Here in the house of God, and in big and small communities everywhere.

On behalf of the Storting, I would like to thank all the civilians who showed compassion, and to thank the police and the health personnel for their efforts.

On behalf of the Storting, I would like to express my deepest sympathies in the grief of the bereaved and all the others who have been affected by what happened.

We stand together with you.