What do Muslims in Norway say about Jews and Judaism? For her doctoral thesis, Vibeke Moe analysed stories about Jews among Muslims in Norway. Her analysis was based on 32 qualitative, individual interviews.
The thesis Community, Boundaries and Meaning in Narratives about Jews among Muslims in Norway was submitted in the autumn of 2021.
Over the centuries, their common religious heritage and shared history have given rise to representations that emphasise fellowship and religious ties, but also polemical accounts whose purpose has been to mark boundaries and define one group in opposition to the Other. In our era, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has formed an important backdrop to the impression of how Muslim-Jewish relations stand and has contributed to polarised representations. Antisemitic acts perpetrated by extremists have also reinforced the impression of a primarily antagonistic relationship.
This doctoral project has explored constructions of affinity and boundaries between Muslims and Jews. A common thread in the material is that the history of the Jews in Europe and the history of modern antisemitism are used as keys to understanding the situation in which today’s Muslim minority in Europe finds itself. In the same way, the respondents’ own experience of belonging to a minority constitutes a frame of reference for understanding the Jewish minority's current situation.
While previous research has focused primarily on antisemitism and a politicised debate has often described the relationship between Muslims and Jews as antagonistic, this study reveals a more nuanced picture. Among other things, the results show how the religious connection between Islam and Judaism, and a shared experience of being a minority, can form a starting point for understanding and solidarity between Jews and Muslims.