Posted on 12/08/2008 1:35:04 PM PST by forkinsocket
While the North Pole’s landscape may evoke images of igloos and barren snow fields, the crescent moon and minaret will soon vie for their place in Norway’s Arctic thanks to a Saudi businessman’s donation to build the region’s first mosque.
A Saudi businessman has donated 20 million Krone ($2.78 million) to build the first mosque in the Arctic region, near the northern part of Norway, according to a news report published by a local Saudi newspaper.
In April the Muslim association in the Arctic town of Inuvik, Canada raised $40,000 to purchase land for a mosque two degrees above the Arctic Circle that it hopes will serve the Northwest Territories’ 175 or so Muslims (according to a 2001 census).
Shams newspaper reported that the Saudi businessmen, who was not identified, donated the money to the Islamic Council of Norway, which represents about 70,000 of Norway’s estimated 130,000 Muslims, during a meeting in London with Sandra Mary Moo, a member of the Norwegian Muslim community.
Islam is the largest minority religion in Norway with more than two percent of Norway's 4.7 million residents identifying as Muslims, according to a 2007 Statistics Norway report. The government report registered 79,068 members of Islamic groups in Norway, mostly from immigrant backgrounds.
Talks between the Muslim community and the Northern Municipality of Norway are underway to secure land for the construction of the mosque in an area of 1000 square meters (about 11,000 square feet).
The mosque is expected to be the largest in the northern parts of Norway.
Hey, if you’re at the north pole, you can’t really face east towards mecca for prayers. ;)
*misharu grabs some popcorn and waits for it . . .*
Changes for the North Pole. Looks like Santa will no longer be able to leave those immodest Barbie dolls under the tree.
Where are they going to put the toilets?
At the same time we must ask a really serious question about why the Norse people are being allowed to bring in more of their race to overrun and pollute the pristine Sa'ami wilderness.
You'd think if they wanted to hang around more with those guys they'd move to Saudi or something.
I'm sure I can find at least 60,000 residents of the Sapmai who would cheer the Norse off if they'd but go.
Ummmn, does anyone else have a little trouble figuring out exactly where this mosque is supposed to be located? From Mecca, the Northwest Territories and Norway must sound like the same place.
Well, actually, a BURQA might be good in the Arctic!!!
A long, long time ago, I asked a devout Muslim how they could pray 5 times a day in the arctic when there was no sunrise for 6 months. He said that that was just proof that people weren’t supposed to live there.
Here’s an idea for all you who have any influence in your towns and cities: In Decatur, Georgia (USofA) buildings cannot be more than 6 stories high.
Well, what if you become pro-active and get an ordinance or zoning passed in your town/city that a mosque cannot be as tall as the tallest church steeple, but must be at least 3 feet shorter? Including the lightening rod.
Idea or impossible idea?
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