Stop Islamisation of Norway
Stop Islamisation of Norway (, SIAN) is a Norwegian anti-Muslim group that was originally established in 2000. Its stated aim is to work against Islam, which it defines as a totalitarian political ideology that violates the Norwegian Constitution as well as democratic and human values. The organisation was formerly led by Arne Tumyr, and is now led by Lars Thorsen. By 2011, it was reported that the organisation had close to 13,000 members or "likes" on its Facebook group, although it gathered only a modest attendance at its meetings and demonstrations. The organisation itself claimed 3,000 members, mainly based in Oslo but followed by Stavanger. These figures made it by far the biggest organisation of the Stop Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) counter-jihad network. In 2012 SIAN broke with the mother organisation SIOE, which it had joined in 2008. Since 2019, the group has become known for burning the Quran at their rallies. History Early history The predecessor to SIAN was started in early 2000 as the Action Committee Against Prayer Calling (Aksjonskomiteen mot bønnerop), originally to protest against a request by the Islamic Cultural Centre to broadcast the Adhan (prayer calling) at a local Oslo Mosque using loudspeakers. In March