Norway: Victory! The Three Palestinian Activists Have Been Acquitted!

We hereby share an unofficial translation of an article published by Tjen Folket Media.

Oslo District Court announced the verdict on March 27 in the trial against the three Palestinian activists who were charged with harassment and intimidation against Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug.

The three, along with other activists, randomly encountered the Progress Party leader on the street in downtown Oslo and spontaneously chose to confront Listhaug verbally about her support for Israel and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

As a result of these statements, the Police Security Service (PST) initiated an investigation, surveillance, and arrests before the three were brought to trial. Their legitimate expressions were attempted to be portrayed as an attack on “democracy.”

Tjen Folket Media celebrates the acquittal, and we are convinced that the massive solidarity with the three, where several dozen organizations and hundreds of individuals have organized protests against this political persecution, has contributed to the acquittal—directly or indirectly. We send our warmest anti-imperialist greetings to the three activists and to all who have stood up to support them.

Tjen Folket Media emphasizes how important political mobilization is as a weapon against state persecution and oppression. This is crucial for supporting those who are morally and politically persecuted, ensuring that they do not stand alone in the face of the State’s repressive forces, whether they be police, security services, or the courts.

Tjen Folket Media also stresses that the case shows how the police and reactionary politicians attack the democratic rights of the people. This is part of a reactionary trend that has been evident for many years. Although the activists were acquitted in this trial, this does not mean that the right to express oneself or protest is secured once and for all. The police and prosecution have attempted to undermine the rights of certain activists in this case. We must remain vigilant against new attempts. At the same time, it is crucial not to be intimidated into silence. If activists allow themselves to be scared into passivity, the Zionists and the state achieve a partial victory, even though they suffered defeat in this case.

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We have followed the case and reported on the repressive case and mobilizations and actions done in solidarity with the three Palestinian activists mentioned in this article. You can read the previous articles in the following links: