Norway
Norway: Retail Chain Pulling Violent Video Games in Wake of Breivik Killings
Norway's still reeling from the shocking mass murders allegedly performed by Anders Breivik 10 days ago, and the latest cultural repercussions will make it harder to find certain video games in the massacre's wake.
Coop Norway, one of the country's largest retailers, announced late last week that they'd be removing 51 video games and weapon-like toys from their shelves in the aftermath of the Oslo/Utoya shootings.
Among the titles affected are , Sniper: Ghost Warrior, Counter-Strike, and four games.
We Condemn the Norway Carnage as a Terrorist Act
The Violence is Not our Culture campaign (VNC Campaign) expresses its deepest sorrows to the people of Norway following the horrible terrorist attacks in Oslo that left some 76 persons dead. The VNC campaign condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist acts in Norway as well as the extremist, bigoted and racist ideology that underpins it.
'Culturally-justified' violence occurs in all faiths, nations, and societies. In the midst of tremendous grieving, we are reminded of the dangers of right-wing extremism, Christian fundamentalism, and bigoted anti-Muslim sentiments that can and do turn deadly.
Norway condems imminent stoning in Iran
6 July, State Secretary Espen Barth Eide summoned the Iranian Ambassador, Seyed Hossein Rezvani, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with two death sentences in Iran.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has been sentenced to death by stoning for infidelity, and Mohammad Reza Haddadi has been sentenced to death for an crime allegedly committed when he was a minor. The case of Majid Tavakkoli was also raised. Mr Tavakkoli has been imprisoned for his political activities as a student, and is serving his sentence in isolation.
Mr Barth Eide commented: “In my meeting with the Iranian Ambassador, I raised three specific cases, each of which are cause for grave concern. We view execution by stoning as an inhuman and barbaric form of punishment and we condemn it. The same applies to the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by minors. In addition, we take a very critical view of imprisonment for the expression of political views.
Nordic angle on forced marriage and honour crime
Nordic co-operation to provide refuges for the victims of forced marriage and honour crimes is absolutely necessary, it emerged from a conference in Oslo, 4-5 December.
Banaz Bakir Fatah
On the second of July, Banaz Bakir Fatah, 36 years old, was murdered by her husband, Kamal Muhammad. Both come from Sulaimanya but were living in Norway.