Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring

Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring (FMI), translated as the People's Movement Against Immigration, is a Norwegian organisation established in 1987 to oppose immigration and advocate a restrictive immigration policy. It presents itself as a non-partisan interest organisation rather than a political party. Its stated purpose has been to inform the public, political parties and elected representatives about what it describes as the social, cultural and political consequences of large-scale immigration to Norway. The organisation's political programme has called for an end to what it terms foreign cultural mass immigration and for the implementation of Norway's nominal immigration stop, adopted by Parliament in 1975 but not put into practical effect in the form its supporters expected. The organisation was founded in Haugesund on 3 October 1987, in the context of a further liberalisation of Norwegian immigration policy earlier that year. Its emergence also reflected the immigration debate among parts of Norway's wartime resistance generation and the wider national movement opposed to Norwegian membership in the European Union. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, FMI became one of the most visible organised opponents of immigration in Norway. It attracted attention through public meetings, political advocacy, newspaper interventions and campaigns directed at immigration policy. Its early public profile was closely associated with Arne Myrdal, who led the organisation during its first period. FMI's early history was marked by intense confrontation with anti-racist and anti-fascist activists. Its founding meeting required police protection, and its 1989 annual meeting in Arendal was disrupted by demonstrators who prevented members from entering the venue. The conflict escalated in 1990, when FMI activists armed with bats and other weapons clashed with anti-racist protesters in Fevik. Myrdal was subsequently convicted and imprisoned for his role in the attack. His increasingly militant activism became a liability for the organisation, and he was removed from FMI's leadership in April 1991. He then established a separate organisation, Norge Mot Innvandring, or Norway Against Immigration. After Myrdal's departure, FMI continued under a succession of leaders, including Jan Høeg, Bjørn Voldnes and Bjarne Dahl. Voldnes later returned to the leadership, followed by Bjørnar Røyset from 2008 according to the organisation's documented leadership chronology. The movement's public visibility and membership appear to have declined substantially after its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nevertheless, it has remained active through opinion writing, public advocacy and local campaigns. In 2007 and 2008, members opposed plans to build a mosque in Førde. The organisation's later activity has generally been more limited and less prominent nationally than during its formative period. FMI is best understood as an advocacy organisation and political pressure group rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand. It does not have known conventional products, retail operations or a listed corporate structure. Its principal outputs are political statements, information material, public meetings, correspondence and campaigns concerning immigration, integration, national identity and cultural change in Norway.

Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring was created in Haugesund on 3 October 1987, following a period in which Norwegian immigration policy had become more liberal. Its supporters sought to give practical effect to the parliamentary immigration stop adopted in 1975 and to challenge what they viewed as large-scale immigration with potentially damaging consequences for Norway's social cohesion and national identity. The movement described itself as a non-partisan organisation whose role was to educate citizens and influence political parties, politicians and public debate. The organisation's rise occurred against a background of strong political mobilisation around national sovereignty and opposition to European integration. FMI received support from parts of the broader movement resisting Norwegian membership in the European Union and was particularly visible during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its activities included public meetings, political statements, correspondence with authorities and opinion articles. Rather than contesting elections as a conventional party, FMI attempted to shape the policy environment from outside the formal party system. The organisation's first leader was Arne Myrdal, whose approach became increasingly confrontational. FMI's founding meeting required police protection because of opposition from anti-FMI activists. At the organisation's 1989 annual meeting in Arendal, demonstrators associated with groups including the Blitz movement obstructed access to the meeting venue. The conflict between FMI and anti-racist groups intensified in April 1990, when anti-racist activists travelled to Fevik to disrupt an FMI gathering. FMI members responded with bats, whips and other weapons, leading to clashes in which five people were taken for emergency medical care. Myrdal was later sentenced to four months in prison for the attack. In June 1990, another FMI meeting in Tønsberg was disrupted after members of the Blitz movement, local residents and SOS Rasisme confronted the organisation. Myrdal was forced away from the meeting. By April 1991, his militant conduct had become sufficiently damaging to FMI that he was pushed out of its leadership. He subsequently established Norge Mot Innvandring, a separate organisation that continued to associate him with a more militant form of anti-immigration activism. Following Myrdal's departure, FMI continued under Jan Høeg, Bjørn Voldnes and Bjarne Dahl. Voldnes led the organisation from 1989 to 1999, returned to the leadership from 2002 to 2008, and was followed by Bjørnar Røyset according to the documented leadership list. The organisation later became less prominent in national public life, with reduced activity and membership compared with its earlier period. It nonetheless continued to publish political opinions and engage in localised campaigns. One documented example was its opposition in 2007 and 2008 to plans for a mosque in Førde. FMI has no documented commercial product portfolio or conventional corporate ownership structure. Its enduring identity rests on advocacy concerning immigration restriction, national identity and cultural policy. The available record supports describing it as a Norwegian political-interest organisation whose greatest public influence and visibility occurred during its first decade, while later activity continued on a smaller scale.

• 2008

  Bjørnar Røyset documented as leader

  [1]People's Movement Against Immigrationen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation's documented leadership chronology records Bjørnar Røyset as succeeding Bjørn Voldnes from 2008.

• 2007

  Opposition to mosque plans in Førde

  [1]People's Movement Against Immigrationen.wikipedia.org

  FMI campaigned against plans to build a mosque in Førde.

• 1991

  Myrdal removed from leadership

  [1]People's Movement Against Immigrationen.wikipedia.org

  Arne Myrdal was forced out of FMI's leadership because his militant activism had become an organisational and reputational liability.

• 1990

  Fevik clash and criminal conviction

  [1]People's Movement Against Immigrationen.wikipedia.org

  A violent confrontation between FMI activists and anti-racist protesters occurred in Fevik; Arne Myrdal was later convicted and imprisoned in connection with the attack.

• 1989

  Annual meeting disrupted in Arendal

  [1]People's Movement Against Immigrationen.wikipedia.org

  Demonstrators blocked access to FMI's annual meeting, illustrating the intense hostility surrounding the organisation's early public activity.

• 1987

  Organisation founded in Haugesund

  [1]People's Movement Against Immigrationen.wikipedia.org

  FMI was established on 3 October 1987 in Haugesund amid debate over the direction of Norwegian immigration policy.

A non-partisan Norwegian pressure group advocating sharply reduced immigration and the preservation of what it regards as Norway's national and cultural identity.

• 1990

  Fevik violence involving FMI activists

  FMI activists carrying bats and other weapons clashed with anti-racist protesters at Fevik. Five people were taken to an emergency department, and leader Arne Myrdal was later convicted and sentenced to four months' imprisonment for the attack.

  Source

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• 2008Continued Førde mosque campaign

  Norway · Førde

  The organisation's opposition to the proposed mosque remained active into 2008.

  Source
• 2007Opposition to the planned Førde mosque

  Norway · Førde

  FMI protested plans to construct a mosque in Førde as part of its wider opposition to immigration and what it regarded as the cultural consequences of immigration.

  Source

• 1991

  Remove Arne Myrdal from leadershipStrategy

  Background

  Myrdal's increasingly militant activism had become a major reputational problem for FMI after repeated confrontations and his conviction following the Fevik incident.

  Action taken

  FMI forced Myrdal out of its leadership in April 1991.

  Aftermath

  Myrdal formed the separate organisation Norge Mot Innvandring, while FMI continued under different leaders and adopted a less prominent public profile.

  Source

1. 1People's Movement Against Immigrationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring official websitefmi.as