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New ‘Soldiers Of Allah’ Vigilante Group In Norway Seems Oddly Similar To Islamist ‘Morality Police’

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Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
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Islamists in Norway have countered the rise of the vigilante group Soldiers of Odin by creating their own group: Soldiers of Allah.

The group, known as ‘Jundallah’ or Soldiers of Allah, plans to sport a uniform with a black Islamic State flag draped across the back and logo on the front. It is believed the Norwegian jihadist group Prophet’s Ummah is behind the formation of the Soldiers of Allah. A member of the Prophet’s Ummah left to fight for ISIS in early 2014, he was later killed in May of the same year.

“In response to the infidel group Soldiers of Odin patrols, we Muslims have chosen to create a group that will patrol the streets, first in Oslo, to prevent evil and encourage the good,” said a statement from the group, sent to Norway’s VG News.

The Soldiers of Odin are a controversial vigilante group that was originally formed in Finland late last year. The group was supposedly created as a response to a rise in crime against Europeans by refugees. Currently, it claims 600 members in 25 chapters spread across nine European countries and the U.S. The various chapters wear jackets emblazoned with the group’s insignia, a viking in a horned helmet draped in the corresponding flag of the country the chapter is located in. The group goes on regular patrols at night in cities and towns, though claims to not engage in violent or illegal activity.

The Norwegian contingent of Soldiers of Odin is believed to have been active for only a few weeks before Soldiers of Allah was created.

“Vigilantism does not belong in Norway, whether they do it in the name of Odin or Allah,” said Hadia Tajik, the deputy leader of Norway’s Labor party, to The Local, “I assume that the police, who are the only ones who have the authority to patrol the streets and use force, are following these groups as closely as the circumstances require.”

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Tags : norway
Russ Read