𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲

— Nasir Khan Today Norway is celebrating its Constitution Day, commonly called in this country, ‘The 17th of May’. My hearty congratulations to the people of this beautiful country on their national day! At present, Norway has become a multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious country. Despite many social changes, all people living in this beautiful, Nordic country have complete freedom to believe in any religion or reject religions and religious dogmas without any intervention, coercion or discrimination by the state authorities, unlike some countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc., where discrimination and victimization of religious minorities on sectarian grounds is a common norm. The people also have complete freedom to choose any political party they want to without any dictate from any state organ. Norway’s democratic traditions and its welfare system are a model of a modern egalitarian state. There is no razzmatazz of military hardware, tanks and missiles or military parades on this occasion. On the other hand, Norwegians’ focus is on the joyous participation of school children and young people in the processions, to the great happiness of the enthusiastic onlookers who throng the streets of Norway’s capital, Oslo. But the celebration of the 17th of May takes place everywhere in this beautiful country. “Hurrah” for Norway!