Another racist murder in Norway exposes the failures of its institutions to tackle rising hatred in the Scandanavian nation says Iffit Qureshi.

Last week in Oslo, Tamima Nibras Juhar, a 34-year-old Norwegian Ethiopian Muslim woman, was murdered in Kampen, Oslo by an 18-year-old right-wing extremist filled with hatred for Muslims. Police say the attack was politically motivated, part of a broader fascist ideology. Today, Tamima was laid to rest, with hundreds gathering at her funeral – including politicians just days before an election.

In my view what we saw from many politicians in power was not solidarity, but performance. White tears. Public grief that soothes guilt but does not confront the systems that enabled her death.

Tamima was not killed in a vacuum. She was killed because racist ideologies are tolerated, because extremist networks are left to grow, and because institutions fail to act on warnings. Our politicians in power have barely shown any emotions regarding Israel’s slaughter of over 61000 Palestinians, or that 1.8million people are on the verge of being annihilated through starvation in Gaza. The government and politicians in opposition have been silent on the genocide. The connection to Gaza is important, because now politicians can use Tamima’s murder to show the Muslim and visible minority voters that they do actually care despite looking the other way and investing the Norwegian oil fund in the occupation of Palestine.

This is not the first time Norway has buried victims of far-right terror. Each time, the pattern repeats: tears, speeches, silence.

Grief is not justice. Tears will not dismantle the racist policies and institutional neglect that allow far-right violence to flourish in Norway.

What we need now is not sympathy but action:

• accountability for institutional failures,
• real investment in preventing extremism,
• and unwavering support for Muslim and immigrant communities who live under constant threat.

Tamima’s life cannot be honoured with white tears. It must be honoured with equality and justice!

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un Tamima
Rest in power! ❤️🇳🇴🇪🇹

Iffit Qureshi is a Scottish-born photojournalist, artist, author, and human rights activist. She received the Oslo City Art Prize for her acclaimed photography project celebrating the diverse people of Oslo. She is also the author of Humans of Oslo and has conducted over 8,000 interviews with strangers from all walks of life, resulting in 15 successful exhibitions.

In 2024, Qureshi founded the charity Mittens for Peace, a unique international solidarity movement that has united more than 450 knitters from around the world. Through the creation of exclusively designed mittens carrying powerful messages, the project not only raises funds but also shares the stories of the Palestinian people. To date, Mittens for Peace has raised over 1.7 million NOK in humanitarian aid for Gaza, transforming grassroots creativity into meaningful support and global awareness.

Image: Tamima Najar, via Facebook