Norwegian systematic racism uprooted by immigrants?

This one might come as shocking, but in the last two years I’ve discovered something I never thought might be true. You know what they say “What you expect the least, is the reality”.

I am an afghan-norwegian muslimah raised in Norway since 1999, at this point I feel like am epitome and the classic example of multicultural, bilingual girl who understands both sides of the story when it comes to culture and politics. That might be both a blessing and curse, depends on how you cultivate it.

In my journey in finding and establishing myself outside of Afghanistan, I have discovered so much regarding other cultures, peoples, religions and politics- I am talking about the nuances that might evade most people.

I had encounterings with almost every other cultural group: russians, turks, syrians, iranians, kurds, arabs, Czechs, icelanders, somalians, koreans and other asian people- and my natural instinct has always been neutral, until I met the pakistanians.

My perspective on cultural groups changed totally with the pakistanians, because of the history and the ongoing political situation in Afghanistan and the talibs.

As a political scientist I know the situation (conflict) between different cultural group and the macro-politics in Afghanistan, the U.S and Pakistan- but I never thought that the talibs in the west would try to bring their “beef” and conflict to me in Norway. Their “beef” or conflict with me, as an afghan, has been clearly demonstrated in their behavior, actions and in their whole being- as if they were still trying to hold a grip on Afghanistan through me. To hold a grip on their past ideas through me. The worst part was the shared(?) consciousness about these ideas and situations, and the emotions that brought them to shame before my eyes.

The emotions and comprehension of what was going on, where it came from and exactly what their intentions were- which I handled through spirituality, understanding of the bigger picture and understanding of the human psyche. As a muslim, emotions should be downplayed- because it can cloud sound judgement in matters of justice and accountability. Still, as humans we afghans have emotions which will play their role where it is left unchecked.

How is all of this connected to the systematic racism in Norway? Well, another aspect of the story is that we are all multicultural, and as multicultural species we try to understand even more about our world, which is natural for all of humanity, I think.

In our search for understanding and survival instinct through reproduction, we naturally- almost everytime have a nose for those base concepts for survival, which always means outmanoeuvring someone else. This is a phenomona that occurs even within the family, between siblings- competing for the spotlight to gain the most love and attention from their parents. In other words, just human nature?

This human nature might have spill-over effects over other institutions and social groups, and from my analysis on the meeting with the other cultural groups, every cultural group in Norway, and especially the pakistanians have uprooted the systematic racism- which is paradoxical, because looking at this strange phenomona from a larger perspective- they have misunderstood the concept of racism.

Racism is the belief that one cultural and ethnic group is better than the other, and that belief might be based both on actual proof or on peoples delusional thoughts based on emotions stemming from feelings of inadequacy. When “racism” is based on the former concept we can call it pride or patriotism, or just human arrogance trying to give their achievements some labels. When it is based on emotions we can call irrational beliefs and psychological disorders.

And my take on the issue with systematic racism in Norway is that it is upheld and uprooted by those two kind of people, which can be labelled under one term: Delusional Envious Primitive Syndrome/Racists.

The Sharpest Pen is The Original Pen, Zainab Moubarez, 2026