Islamic cleric Mullah Krekar, who came to Norway as a refugee and ended up being declared a threat to national security, was back in an Oslo courtroom this week to appeal two convictions from earlier this year. Krekar claims his freedom of expression has been violated.
Krekar was sentenced to prison terms of five years and one year for making threats against several persons including Erna Solberg, the head of Norway’s Conservative Party and a former cabinet minister, and Kjell Magne Bondevik, a former prime minister who now runs a peace institute in Oslo.
Krekar is currently being held in prison in Kongsvinger and also has been questioned in yet another case involving two Kurdish brothers who face terror charges in Switzerland. They allegedly belong to a terrorist organization that was created in cooperation with Krekar.
Krekar denies all the charges against him and has claimed he never meant to encourage terrorist attacks or spread fear within the Norwegian population. The statements he’s made that are deemed offensive, or as justifying terrorist acts, are merely his religious interpretation of Islamic law, he claims.
Krekar, who refused to answer questions from prosecutors and judges in earlier courtroom action, is expected to cooperate in the new court case in Oslo since he filed the appeal.
The case is expected to continue through next week.
newsinenglish.no staff
