30 July 2011

hate is not the answer

Bano Rashid was 18 years old and had many plans and dreams. She wanted to become a lawyer and a member of the Norwegian parliament. For the upcoming local elections in September 2011 she was standing as a candidate of the social democratic party. On 22 July 2011 she met her role model Gro Harlem Brundtland on the island of Utoya and they had a lively discussion. A few hours later Bano was shot dead by an extreme right-wing killer. 
With her Kurdish parents, Bano had come to Norway as a refugee. 
At the specific request of her Moslem family the memorial service was held in a Christian church attended by an imam and a priest. Her mother said at the service: The answer is not more hatred but more love.

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for this, Sabine.

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  2. Love through misery ... if only we all had such strength ...

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  3. How sad, and beautiful, and true.
    I am glad for the personal tone of this post. It really hits home.

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  4. It's always personal, every victim is a person, anywhere.

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