Muslim leader "Mullah Krekar" takes Norway to court over expulsion order 2.6.2005

Mulla Krekar: Photo AP

But Krekar insists that he presents no threat to Norway, noting that Norwegian police have closed their preliminary investigation into his possible involvement in financing terrorist activities.

Krekar has lived in Norway as a refugee since 1991. He has been under threat of deportation for more than two years after Norwegian media revealed that he was the founder of Ansar al-Islam, which figures on the United States' list of terrorist organizations.

The Iraqi Kurd admits that he founded the group but insists that he no longer heads it.

The Norwegian government last month rejected his appeal against the deportation order. But Krekar maintains that the expulsion order is not valid and has taken the authorities to court.

"It's a very special case. It has international ramifications and in this respect is important, not just for Mullah Krekar but also for political circles in Norway," his lawyer Brynjar Meling said Thursday as the case opened.

The Norwegian government has argued that Krekar violated the conditions of his residency permit by repeatedly returning to Iraq.

Citing its international obligations, Oslo has said Krekar would be deported once Iraq adopts a new constitution and when a functioning, "legitimate" government is in place.

US authorities also suspect him of involvement in the August 2003 suicide bombing of the UN mission in Baghdad, and of links with a suspect in the Madrid bombings on March 11 last year.

AFP 

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