The public defender for a former Taliban minister who was deported from Norway last month now says he’s challenging the deportation on behalf of his client. Brynjar Meling, attorney for Abdul Mohammad Rauf, claims the Norwegian government hasn’t documented that his client poses a threat to national security.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Tuesday that Mohammad Rauf, who was brought to Norway as a refugee nearly 14 years ago after fleeing the Taliban, was secretly sent out of the country on July 8, on the grounds that he posed a threat not only to Norway but to Norway’s allies. Meling, who initially said he couldn’t comment on the case because of confidentiality issues, later told NRK that the reason initially given for the deportation was Mohammad’s involvement in a case of violence.
“We’ve already sued the state for one of the reasons, to make it invalid, and now we’ll attack the next one,” said Meling, who also has defended muslim cleric Mullah Krekar against terrorism charges and deportation. Meling said the state has no evidence that his client is dangerous.
Mohammad held a relatively important position as a minister during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the late 1990s and then became an informant against the Taliban. He has later charged with domestic violence in Norway but has denied he poses a terrorist threat to Norway or that he has radicalized young Norwegian Muslims.
newsinenglish.no staff
