Will make sure that the government picks up Christian quota refugees...

The governing parties and the FRP have completely different interpretations of how Christians should be given priority when Norway takes out quota refugees. FRP deputy leader Sylvi Listhaug is upset that KrF may disagree with them.

– That KrF and the Church of Norway are opposed to prioritizing Christian persecuted, is completely incomprehensible. They should instead stand with us in Frp about such a measure and not oppose it, Listhaug says to VG.

It has been 24 hours since the FRP – against a significant internal minority – approved the budget agreement.

It says that «also persecuted Christians, Ahmadiyya and Yezidi refugees shall be given priority as a group and individuals in the transfer of resettlement refugees».

On Wednesday, Minister of Development Aid Dag Inge Ulstein (KrF) was in the Storting’s spontaneous question time. There he was challenged by Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor Party) to explain how the settlement between the government parties and the FRP, on the withdrawal of quota refugees, should be interpreted:

– In the budget negotiations with the FRP, there was a wish in the overall agreement that came, that precisely both Yezidis, Ahmadyya Muslims and Christians should also be mentioned in those agreements. This does not mean that we downgrade other groups, Ulstein said in the Storting.

Talk away

But Listhaug completely disagrees:

– The government will of course implement what we agree on, even though KrF is now trying to talk away from the agreement. We will take good care and follow up that this is implemented, says Frp’s deputy leader, who negotiated the budget agreement with party leader Siv Jensen.

In NRK’s ​​Politisk Kvarter on Wednesday morning, KrF leader Kjell Ingolf Ropstad said this about the agreement:

– The presentation yesterday was that only Christians should be given priority. The point is that there are criteria as a basis. We will prioritize families with children and different countries. We have also pointed out LGBTQ refugees who are persecuted on the basis of their orientation, Ropstad replied.

Committed

– There is no doubt that the government has now committed itself to prioritizing Christian persecuted when picking out quota refugees. It is as natural as giving priority to families with children, and now lately LGBTQ refugees, says Sylvi Listhaug.

– We will take good care and follow up that this is implemented, she adds.

– Should you pick up Christians because they are persecuted, or because they are easier to integrate in Norway?

There are 260 million Christians around the world who experience persecution for their faith. And the number is growing. Therefore, we believe it is important that we see them and that they are given priority.

– Because they are Christians?

– Norway was Christianized 1000 years ago. Although we no longer have a state religion, it is natural with our history that we prioritize Christians who are persecuted. It is easy for most people to understand, says Sylvi Listhaug.

Warned against advantages

Dag Inge Ulstein has previously warned against giving preference to Christians can worsen the situation for the Christians who are left in the countries from which others are fleeing.

In the Storting on Wednesday, he confirmed this view, but added that there is an increased persecution directed against Christians, but also other religious minorities, who are persecuted for their faith:

– My own view, the Christian People’s Party’s view, has not changed. It is not the case that we are looking for Christians, Ulstein said.