SIAN

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'''SIAN''', an abbreviation of '''Stopp Islamiseringen av Norge''' ("Stop the Islamicization of Norway"), is an [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] group in [[Norway]], which shares part of its name with series of similar groups<ref group=note>Similarly named groups include: SIAA; {{wpl|Stop Islamization of America||.}} SIAE; {{wpl|Stop Islamisation of Europe||.}} SIAD; Stop Islamiseringen af Danmark ({{wpl|Stop Islamisation of Denmark||),}} which has been promoted by [[Trykkefrihedsselskabet]].</ref> and with parallels to [[Germany]]'s [[PEGIDA]]. Part of a diffuse web of [[Counter-jihad]] lobby groups, [[fringe]] political parties, and <strike>media outlets</strike> [[fake news]] sites that push the myth of [[Eurabia]], SIAN was founded in 2012, very shortly after [[Breivik]]'s [[Terrorism|terror attacks]], and was previously known as FOMI (Forum mot islamisering, "Forum Against Islamicization"). They have openly supported [[Fjordman]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190623161928/https://www.dagsavisen.no/debatt/er-sian-stopp-islamiseringen-av-norge-en-trussel-mot-det-norske-samfunnet-1.456807</ref>

==Origins==
SIAN seems to have been inspired by [[Denmark]]'s SIAD, {{wpl|Stop Islamisation of Denmark||.}}

==Positioning==
SIAN's stated goal from their website is to "work against, stop, and reverse Islamiciztion in Norway" by "spreading information about what [[Islam]] stands for and what consequences Islamicization will have."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190502125644/http://www.sian.no/om-sian</ref>

The organization claims not to be affiliated with any political party, but members of [[Fremskrittspartiet]] appear more likely to spread SIAN's message than those of other major parties.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190703025636/https://www.nrk.no/sognogfjordane/frp-politikar-sprer-sian-artiklar-1.8126088</ref>

==Incidents==
* In 2016, spokesperson Lars Thorsen was attacked by counter-protestors in a demonstration after he took a flying leap over [[Essay:Why Heresy Is Good And Blasphemy Is Bad|the line between "respectful criticism of a religion" and "picking a fight with believers"]] by throwing a book on [[Sharia]] law on the ground and said "That's what we do with this", while wearing a shirt that said "[[Muhammad|Mohammed]] [[Blasphemy|was a terrorist]]."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160914010701/https://www.nrk.no/ostfold/her-blir-sian-talsmann-angrepet-under-appell-1.13129002</ref>

* In May 2017, leader and deputy leader Lars Thorsen and Fanny (also known as Anna) Bråten were caught by a TV2 news camera crew shouting [[homophobic]] and Islamophobic remarks to a group protesting a speech by [[Austria|Austrian]] far-right [[identitarian]] figure [[Martin Sellner]].<ref>https://www.tv2.no/v/1199851/</ref>

* Also in 2017, SIAN was forced to shut down their tent in the middle of Arendal, in southern Norway, timed to coincide with a political festival called Arendalsuka ("Arendal Week"), because police could not guarantee the safety of SIAN members there.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190703030359/https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/2WM0v/braak-ved-sian-bod-fjernes-fra-arendalsuka</ref>

* In July 2018, Hansen and Bråten organized distribution of brochures with Islamophobic content. On September 1, 2018, in a demonstration before the Parliament (Stortinget), [[Inflammatory language|Bråten claimed asylum-seekers would turn out to be "murder zombies [and] sexual predators"]]. Both were charged in early 2019 for [[Hate speech|breach]] of Norway's "[[racism]] paragraph," §185 of the Criminal Code.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190606003111/https://filternyheter.no/sian-ledere-tiltalt-for-muslimhets-i-oslo-morderzombier-og-seksualpredatorer/</ref>

* In spring 2019, Arendalsuka faced pressure from several political parties after inviting both SIAN and [[Hans Lysglimt Johansen]]'s Alliansen to the festival, but not inviting Normal Norway, an organization that advocates for the legalization of [[cannabis]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190529160601/https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/presset-oker-mot-arendalsuka/71129332</ref>

* On July 22, 2019, the anniversary of the Utøya massacre, Bråten posted "Safer with Breivik than with the Muslim… There are many gold nuggets in his manifesto."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190722145313/https:/twitter.com/Slaur_Marius/status/1153234231138627584/photo/1 Screendump of Bråten post from Twitter]</ref>

* In August 2019, [[Fremskrittspartiet|The Progress Party]], long known for its anti-immigrant stance, announced it would adjust party rules to prevent dual membership in the party and SIAN.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190913184801/https://www.dagsavisen.no/innenriks/uenighet-om-sian-medlemskap-i-frp-1.1567005 Sofie Prestegård, «Uenighet om SIAN-medlemskap i Frp» ("Disagreement over SIAN membership in Progress Party"), ''Dagsavisen'', Aug. 12, 2019, as displayed Sep. 13, 2019.]</ref> Some party members and officials disagreed, citing both [[freedom of speech]] and [[hypocrisy]].

==See also==
*[[Document.no]]
*[[Fremskrittspartiet]]
*[[Pamela Geller]], head of Stop Islamization of America
*[[Hans Jørgen Lysglimt Johansen]]
*[[Med Israel For Fred]]
*[[Resett.no]]
*[[Rasmus Paludan]]
*[[Hans Rustad]]
*[[Selvstendighetspartiet]]
*[[Hege Storhaug]]
*[[Stram Kurs]]
*[[Peter Sweden]]
*[[Sweden Democrats]]
*[[Olav Torheim]]

==External links==
*[http://www.sian.no/ SIAN website] (in Norwegian)
*[https://www.facebook.com/SIAN2008 SIAN Facebook page] (in Norwegian)
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/261373247374619/ Another SIAN Facebook page] (in Norwegian)
*[https://twitter.com/wwwSIANno SIAN Twitter account] (mostly in Norwegian)
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo2Eu2_pe_bH-a-sJE8Y-ww SIAN YouTube channel] (in Norwegian)

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Islamophobia]]
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Norway]]
[[Category:Racism]]
[[Category:Fascism]]
[[Category:Neo-Nazism]]

Categories: Islamophobia, Alt-right, Norway, Racism, Fascism, Neo-Nazism