The Muslim Student Association of Norway (MSS) are agitated after dean Trygve Wyller took a negative attitude toward the use of a gym for the Friday prayer.

– Wyller´s statement in this case is surprising and also very disappointing, says leader for MSS Bushra Ishaq.
Uniforum wrote last week that the deans Hans Petter Graver at the Faculty of Law and Trygve Wyller at the Faculty of Theology take a negative attitude toward using a gym in the Frederikke building for a joint prayer every Friday. This has made MSS´ heart sink.
– Through their statements, the deans portray Muslims as demanding. This is far from the truth, says Ishaq.
She is especially disappointed by Wyller, who she in other situations has regarded as a tolerant and constructive figure who has worked hard for dialogue at the University of Oslo.

– Lost credibility

As recent as during the rector election campaign Wyller promised to work for more suitable premises for the Muslims´ Friday prayer.
– Wyller shows neither integrity nor reliability when he, during his campaign, promised us he would work on with finding better premises for the Friday prayers, says Ishaq.
Former leader of MSS Mohammad Usman Rana does not understand much of the statement either.
– I am sad, disappointed and annoyed by what the deans say. We are proud to attend a university that adjusts for Muslims and does not want a polarized and agonizing discussion about Muslims´ place at the university, says Rana.

Trygve Wyller is sorry for how the case has been made out.
– In the light of the publiciy in Uniforum I understand that Muslim students are disappointed and might feel let down, he says.

SiO skeptical

According to Wyller, his statement is based on an administrative proposition from the university to use the big gym at Frederikke for the Friday prayers. MSS´ proposition has all the time been to use one of the smaller aerobic halls for their prayer.
– We have not made any demands, but for us, this is a proposition for a solution to a practical problem. As it is now, we have people praying in the corridor every Friday. All we have asked for is a bigger room where we can arrange the Friday prayer, says leader of prayer and student of medicine Muzakar Amin.
– If the issue concerns a smaller aerobic hall, then we might have reacted on something that is incorrect. If that is the case, then this is a not a significant case to me, says Wyller.
The Foundation of Student Life in Oslo, SiO, drifts the gym at Frederikke. Director for the Student Sports Asbjørn Amundsen is skeptical towards allowing religious ceremonies in their halls.
– To the greatest extent, we want out halls to be used for sports, he says.

Positive towards a prayer room

Wyller says he sticks by what he said during his electional campaign, and that Muslim students should have their wishes for a larger prayer room honored.
– Because of the lack of room in the mosalla, the university´s prayer room for Muslims, it is obvious that the Muslims need a larger room for their Friday prayer, he says.
Wyller thinks the University of Oslo should develop religion policies for a multi-religious society that is more thought through and professionally rooted.
- A theme in such a strategy development should be the relationship between secular common rooms and religious rooms at the university, he says.
– I´m sorry if this has felt like some sort of Christian criticism toward Muslims. The relationship between the Faculty of Theology and MSS has always been a good one, and I hope it continues being so in the future, too, says Wyller.

Two years have passed since MSS applied for a larger room for the Friday prayers. They are still waiting for an answer.

– We hope that the university management takes responsibility. We will respect a rejection of our application, but we think it´s weird how people have taken the case to the media in this way, says leader of the MSS Bushra Ishaq.

She is disappointed over the time it takes to handle the application.

– We admitted the letter almost two years ago, and since then we haven’t been invited to meetings or dialogues. We hope that the university will give us a fair treatment and a neat process, she says.

Study director Monica Bakken says, however, that the university came to a solution in 2007, when they fixed two rooms for the Friday prayer

– After this, better solutions have been fixed, and MSS has had the opportunity to participate in the work, Bakken says.