Muslims wish to build the mosque Salam Climate and Peace Centre slightly south of Nordkapp. Muhammad Basit, who owns the plot, believes a mosque will mean development and growth, and maintains that it will be a gift to the population. Basit hopes the work will begin this year, and that the mosque will be completed next year.
Purchased the plot many years ago
Muhammad Basit has contacted Nordkapp municipality in order to obtain permission to build a mosque at Sarnes, writes Radio Nordkapp. In the enquiry to the municipality, Basit states that he purchased the plot at Sarnes many years ago. He gave the plot as a gift to the Ahmadiyya Muslims in Norway.
The world’s northernmost mosque?
Sarnes is a small settlement in Nordkapp municipality, where Ahmadiyya Muslims thus hope they can build a mosque. Sarnes was largely depopulated around the 1970s, had no road access until 1999, when the E69 was constructed. Today it is a quiet place along the route between Honningsvåg and the North Cape Plateau (Nordkappplatået), where the world’s northernmost mosque may be established.
Mosque builder Muhammad Basit has a plot at Sarnes, but tells the local radio that he could in fact rather envisage another plot in the area. That is to say where there previously was a boarding school (internatskole) at Sarnes, opened in 1958 and closed in 1971. A mosque may now be built there, and Muhammad Basit has informed Nordkapp municipality that he has an interest in the boarding school plot. He hopes for a prompt reply, so that there can be development in Nordkapp municipality.
Radio Nordkapp asks in an interview with Basit why he is interested in the plot where the old boarding school stood?
Lacks mosque in the north
– Yes, I have this plot on the other side, two decares (mål) by the fjord, Salnesfjorden. We can perhaps use one decare there. The other decare is down by the sea. It may not be possible to build very much there. Perhaps we can make something like a quay there. Therefore I thought of the other plot. I bought it 11 years ago. I gave it to the Ahmadiyya congregation (Ahmadiyya-forsamlingen) in Norway. We have a large mosque at Furuset in Oslo, in Frognerveien in Oslo, and we have a mosque in Kristiansand, but we lack a mosque in the north. Therefore, says Basit in rather poor Norwegian.
A gift to the population
Muhammad Basit thus tells Radio Nordkapp that a mosque will be a gift to the people of Finnmark, and to the world.
“A mosque is a house of God. It is the same God as other religions have. Everyone is welcome in a mosque, regardless of religion,” says Muhammad Basit.
“Do you think this will be something for tourists who visit Nordkapp?” asks the radio.
“Yes, everyone who can worship God. Not only Muslims. Everyone is welcome, to worship one God.”
“Will a mosque be an enrichment for Nordkapp?”
“Yes, everywhere we build a mosque, there we see very much development. You see it in Oslo, where we have a mosque, and you see it in America, where we have a mosque, and in Toronto, where we have a mosque. And in East Village, where we have a mosque. When a mosque is built, very much development happens.”
“In conclusion, do you think there will be a mosque at Sarnes?”
“Yes, I hope we begin to prepare this year. And, In sha’ Allah, I hope that the mosque will be completed next year,” Basit replied.
The reporter says nothing about the fact that Muslims could simply have sought out a church if it is the case that they have the same God, and that churches are still found on almost every headland in Norway.
Deleted the article from Facebook
Instead, the reporter states on his own Facebook page that Radio Nordkapp not only closed the comments section, but deleted the entire article, when the comments did not turn out as desired.
“This week we, Radio Nordkapp, had an article about a mosque at Sarnes, where I interviewed Muhammad Basit. As it became a good article, it was shared on Radio Nordkapp’s Facebook page. After transgression number one, I called the editor and said I regretted the publication on social media. I received a clear message to delete the article on Facebook if further transgressions occurred. They did, and the article was deleted from Radio Nordkapp’s social media channels. We are a very small editorial office, and it is limited how much time we at all hours of the day can spend monitoring debates,” writes the journalist, Bjørn Magne Solvik, who was disappointed by the comments section.
There were mosque plans also in 1993
In the same post, Solvik mentions that there was also a desire to build a mosque at Nordkapp in 1993.
“Such matters are just as incendiary now as when Nordkapp municipal council (kommunestyre) dealt with a similar case in 1993. It is damned disappointing! We should have learned something in 33 years.”
It was Finnmark Dagblad that covered the mosque debate in Nordkapp municipal council in 1993. Radio journalist Solvik shares clippings and writes:
“The municipal council said no to a mosque at the Skarsvåg junction after a relatively heated debate in the municipal council. The decision was carried by one vote. And yes, it was I, who absolutely do not believe in gods, who wanted a mosque in Nordkapp,” writes Solvik, who signs himself Solvik_OneOfNorway’sMostLiberalMen.
Closed the comments sections
Other media in Finnmark also write somewhat about the mosque matter in Nordkapp. Both Finnmarksposten and iFinnmark have shared their articles on Facebook, but the comments sections were quickly closed. Some managed to express themselves, and with very little approval:
“Then Sarnes can change its name to Moskenes.”
“Who is it that wants this? I doubt it is those who are born and raised in Finnmark who want it.”
“Where are the reindeer owners when one really needs them..!” was heard from the depths of the people, who scarcely regarded the plans as a gift to the people of Finnmark.