Human Rights Service
{{Short description|Norwegian foundation}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Human Rights Service
|logo = Human Rights Service.svg
|logo_size = 150px
|type = Foundation (nonprofit)
|foundation = 2001
|key_people = Rita Karlsen
Hege Storhaug
|homepage = [http://www.rights.no/ www.rights.no]
}}
Human Rights Service (HRS) is a Norwegian foundation established in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.snl.no/Human_Rights_Service|work=Store norske leksikon|title=Human Rights Service|language=Norwegian|date=23 September 2015}} The organization is known for its criticism of Islam and immigration, and is managed by Rita Karlsen and Hege Storhaug.{{cite web|url=http://www.rights.no/publisher/publisher.asp?id=28|work=Human Rights Service|title=Om HRS|language=Norwegian}}
Activities
HRS claims to have been established to work for a more well-functioning multi-ethnic society. Through the spread of information the organization aims to contribute to better integration of immigrants, and preventing violation of human rights. It has become known especially for its work against forced marriage, and against cultural and religious oppression of women. The organization has also been critical of the cultural and economic effects of the high immigration to Norway.
HRS received public funding from the Norwegian state from 2002 to 2021, and from 2012 to 2015 from Oslo municipality.{{Cite news|title=Statsstøtte til omstridt organisasjon|url=http://www.utrop.no/Nyheter/Innenriks/2982|work=Utrop|date=11 December 2002|language=Norwegian}}{{Cite news|title=Human Rights Service mister kommunal støtte|url=http://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/human-rights-service-mister-kommunal-sttte/3423139382.html|work=Nettavisen|date=23 September 2015|language=Norwegian}} After a new Oslo city council proposed to withdraw further support in 2015, the organization claimed they saw a huge surge of private donations.{{Cite news|title=Hege Storhaug: - Vi får så mye støtte at vi ikke klarer å ta unna|url=http://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/hege-storhaug---vi-far-sa-mye-sttte-at-vi-ikke-klarer-a-ta-unna/3423143967.html|work=Nettavisen|date=6 October 2015|language=Norwegian}} In 2017, after longstanding opposition from the left-wing parties, the centre-right political parties Liberal Party, Christian Democratic Party, and some politicians from Conservative Party also tried to stop further funding of HRS, but they still got NOK 1.835.000 in state funding.{{Cite news|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/zL539O/Venstre-og-KrF-lot-Human-Rights-Service-beholde-millionstotten|title=Venstre og KrF lot Human Rights Service beholde millionstøtten|work=Aftenposten|access-date=2018-04-17|language=nb-NO}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/hrs-stotten-overlevde-budsjettkampen-1.13791251|title=HRS-støtten overlevde budsjettkampen|last=NRK|work=NRK|access-date=2018-04-17|language=nb-NO}} In September 2021, after increasing criticism and opposition to its work from several political parties, it was announced that the state would cease funding HRS.{{cite news |last1=Mjaaland |first1=Ola |last2=Rønning |first2=Mats |last3=Strømme |first3=Simen Hunding |title=Fjerner støtten til Human Rights Service: – En skammens dag, sier Storhaug |url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/fjerner-stotten-til-human-rights-service_-_-en-skammens-dag_-sier-storhaug-1.15662527 |access-date=23 September 2021 |work=NRK |date=22 September 2021 |language=nb-NO}}
HRS has been praised by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.{{cite news|url=http://www.aei.org/publication/women-the-future-of-freedom/|work=American Enterprise Institute|first=Ayaan Hirsi|last=Ali|date=26 August 2006|title=Women the Future of Freedom}} American writer Bruce Bawer has formerly worked for the organization.{{cite news|url=http://www.rights.no/publisher/publisher.asp?id=59&tekstid=2872|work=Human Rights Service|title=Bruce Bawer joins forces with HRS|date=21 October 2009|first=Bruce|last=Bawer|access-date=17 December 2010}}{{Cite web|last=Redaksjonen|first=Tekst|date=2015-01-07|title=Hege Storhaug: – Jeg er helt vill etter frihet!|url=http://nattogdag.no/2015/01/smilgift-moter-hege-storhaug/|access-date=2021-03-30|website=NATT&DAG|language=nb-NO}} The website of the organisation has long been considered to promote the Eurabia conspiracy theory of Bat Ye'or.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UUSCDwAAQBAJ&dq=human+rights+service+eurabia&pg=PT277|title=Key Thinkers of the Radical Right: Behind the New Threat to Liberal Democracy|first=Mark|last=Sedgwick|year=2019|publisher=Oxford University|isbn=9780190877613}} Previously, since 2007, the site also published works by the counter-jihad blogger Fjordman through its former employee Jens Tomas Anfindsen{{cite news|url=https://www.manifesttidsskrift.no/sannheten-om-da-hrs-hyllet-fjordman/|title=Sannheten om da HRS hyllet Fjordman|work=Manifest Tidsskrift|date=6 August 2021|language=no}} who also attended the 2007 counter-jihad conference in Brussels.{{cite news|url=https://libertiesalliance.org/2007/10/20/counter-jihad-brussels-18-19-october-2007/|title=Counter Jihad Brussels: 18-19 October 2007|date=20 October 2007|work=International Civil Liberties Alliance}} HRS has later distanced itself from Bat Ye'or, the Eurabia conspiracy theory and Fjordman.{{cite news|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/storhaugs-daringrlige-hukommelse/63577522|title=Storhaugs dårlige hukommelse|date=9 August 2011|language=no|first=Øyvind|last=Strømmen|work=Dagbladet}} The organisation has however still been considered to have a counter-jihad{{cite book|title='Green Crescent, Crimson Cross': The Transatlantic 'Counterjihad' and the New Political Theology|url=https://etheses.lse.ac.uk/3780/1/Pertwee__green-crescent-crimson-cross.pdf|page=267|last=Pertwee|first=Ed|date=October 2017|publisher=London School of Economics|doi=10.21953/lse.xx0e1p4w3f3y|doi-access=free}} character, though more subtle than others.{{cite book|url=http://govcom.org/populism/GCO_DMI_Populism_final_6May2013.pdf|title=Right-Wing Formations In Europe And Their Countermeasures: An Online Mapping|page=56|first=Richard|last=Rogers|publisher=Govcom.org Foundation|year=2013}}
The organization has seen controversy as a result of criticism by immigrant women formerly affiliated with the organization, including former employee Amal Aden criticizing some of its alleged work methods.{{cite news|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/07/07/nyheter/hege_storhaug/human_rights_service/amal_aden/innvandring/7078926/|work=Dagbladet|title=– Var det opp til meg, ville de ikke fått støtte|first=Lars Molteberg|last=Glomnes|date=7 July 2009|access-date=17 December 2010|language=Norwegian}}{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/bryter-med-sine-allierte/a/216868/|title=Bryter med sine allierte|work=VG|date=28 February 2004|language=Norwegian}} Aden gave a formal complaint to the police,{{Cite news|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/hun-satte-livet-mitt-pa-spill/65242579|title=- Hun satte livet mitt på spill|date=2009-07-02|work=Dagbladet.no|access-date=2018-04-17|language=no}} but the police later dropped the case due to insufficient capacity.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/tar-hrs-pastander-alvorlig/65258259|title=- Tar HRS-påstander alvorlig|date=2009-07-29|work=Dagbladet.no|access-date=2018-04-17|language=no}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.rights.no/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
Category:2001 establishments in Norway
Category:Anti-immigration politics in Norway
Category:Anti-Islam sentiment in Norway
Category:Foundations based in Norway
Category:Human rights organisations based in Norway