December 4, 2004. This evening a demonstration in downtown Oslo proved that at least 50 of Norway's 70,000 Muslims reject violence and terror. The demo, a response to the murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands, was intended to be a dramatic statement by Norwegian Muslims that they condemn all such actions performed in the name of their religion. Its organizer, Noman Mubashir (a young NRK reporter with a Muslim background), told Aftenposten that he had hoped the Muslim Council, or another Muslim organization or spokesperson, would arrange such an event.  But this didn't happen, so he took the job on himself.

Widely publicized beforehand, the demo was attended by every major politician in Norway. (Left: former P.M. Jens Stoltenberg, Labor; far left: Kristin Halvorsen, Socialist Left party leader, with Akhtar Chaudry Ali, Oslo City Council.) Alas, the total turnout was a staggeringly low 200.*  Of this number, only about 50 were Muslims. That's less than a tenth of one percent of Norway's 70,000 Muslims (most of whom live in Oslo).

*My estimate.  VG and NRK also say 200; Aftenposten says 300.