Populist Norwegian politician Carl I Hagen has a long track record of provocation in Norway. His latest frontal attack on Muslims at a Christian gathering this week may set a new record for the degree of reaction he's getting.
Rival politicians are blasting remarks made by Progress Party boss Hagen that compared Muslims to Hitler, poked fun at Mohammed and raised fears that Muslims are trying to take over the world.
Local theologists say they're shocked, a university professor claimed Hagen went way too far this time, and at least one anti-discrimination organization is threatening to sue him.
Hagen's outbursts came during a speech he made at a Christian festival in Bergen on Tuesday.
"The Islamic fundamentalists, along the same lines as Hitler, made it clear a long time ago that their long-term plan is to 'Islamify' the world," Hagen claimed. "They're well underway, they've come far in Africa and are on their way into Europe, and then we have to fight it."
Hagen also talked about children being used as suicide bombers. "We Christians are very concerned about children, 'Let the children come to me,' said Jesus," Hagen declared. "I can't see Mohammed saying the same."
That remark spurred laughter and applause from his Christian audience, perhaps encouring Hagen to add: "If he (Mohammed) did say such a thing, it must have been: 'Let the small children come to me, so that I can exploit them in my effort to make the world Islamic."
While Hagen found himself preaching to the choir at the Christian festival of the organization Levende Ord, (Living Word), other politicians were furious.
Afshan Rafiq, a member of Parliament from the Conservatives, blasted Hagen for "stygmatizing an entire religion." He was backed by Erna Solberg, head of the Conservatives, who said Hagen's remarks further distance the two parties from each other even though they're both on the right of Norway's political spectrum.
Solberg said there now was even less probablity that her party and Hagen's could cooperate to form a non-socialist government in Norway. An official from the Christian Democrats also said Hagen "crossed the line when he didn't only attack fundamentalists, but also the prophet Mohammed."
Solberg's reaction likely comes as a relief to Jens Vidar Bjørkedal, Norway's only Muslim sheriff. He told newspaper VG he was shaken by Hagen's remarks. "I hope he never gets into the government," Bjørkedal told VG. "I'm shocked that a leading politician can say such things."
Some commentators said it likely will be up to Progress Party deputy Siv Jensen "to clean up" after Hagen's latest provocation. Hagen, they say, enjoys stirring up trouble, only to let party colleagues smooth ruffled feathers afterwards.