Mullah Krekar, the former refugee who’s been declared a threat to national security in Norway, was back in court in Oslo on Tuesday, charged with inciting terrorist activity and threatening Norwegian government officials. He claims he’s merely acting in accordance with the Koran.
Krekar was initially called in for questioning by Norwegian police intelligence PST, but Krekar refused to appear, claiming he had no faith in the PST. That led to him being summoned to court to answer questions about death threats he made early last summer against Erna Solberg, the head of Norway’s Conservative Party.
The threats, similar to ones he’s made before, came at the end of a lengthy press conference with foreign correspondents in Oslo in June, at which Views and News from Norway was present and filed the only immediate report that was quickly picked up by Norwegian media. Krekar had refused to allow Norwegian journalists at the press conference, claiming they are biased against him.
Reports of his death threats against Solberg set off a new wave of outrage against Krekar, who long ago wore out his welcome in Norway. He came to the country as a refugee nearly 20 years ago, was granted asylum and mostly has lived off welfare payments while repeatedly violating the terms of his asylum by traveling back to Northern Iraq and leading a guerrilla group there.
He was ultimately accused of terrorist activity and a deportation order was issued against him, but Norway won’t send him back to Iraq because he faces a death sentence there. Norway won’t send anyone to a country where they might be executed.
So Krekar remains in Norway, complaining often of alleged injustices against him and also allegedly lodging threats against others in addition to Solberg. Krekar told foreign reporters on June 10 that if he is sent back to Northern Iraq and eventually executed, persons like Solberg will suffer the same fate, because his supporters would avenge his death. PST claims Krekar also has made death threats over the Internet against other persons living in Norway.
The hearing into the threats was scheduled to continue on Wednesday in the Oslo City Court. His defense lawyer Brynjar Meling said Krekar has said the threats were merely the response to threats made against himself, and in line with the teachings of the Koran.
Views and News from Norway/Nina Berglund
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