Norwegian security officials have warned an Arab refugee living in Norway that he may be in danger, reports the British newspaper The Guardian. The Norwegian officials are said to have spirited writer Iyad el-Baghdadi, who’s been a vocal critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to a secure location after being alerted to the alleged threat by their counterparts at the US’ CIA.
The Guardian reported Tuesday that the CIA warned Norway about the threat against el-Baghdadi, a Palestinian-born writer who was active in the Arab Spring pro-democracy movement. El-Baghdadi has since gained a large following for his criticism of autocratic leaders and not least Prince Mohammed, who’s been linked to the beastly murder of another Arab critic last year, Jamal Khashoggi, inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
El-Baghdadi, who was granted political asylum in Norway after being arrested and expelled from the United Arab Emirates, told The Guardian that two Norwegian police squads arrived at his residence on April 25. One took him to a secure location while the other made sure no one was following them, according to El-Baghdadi.
He was told of the alleged threat against him from the Saudis “but there is no idea of what they are going to do,” El-Baghdadi said in the Guardian report that was picked up Tuesday by Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).
It’s by no means the first time a refugee in Norway has been threatened by his or her homeland or other authorities abroad. Norway, like other governments, has an obligation to attempt to offer protection.
To read The Guardian’s full report, click here (external link to The Guardian’s website).
newsinenglish.no staff
