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Norwegian court upholds Muslim terrorist
leader's 'Krekar' expulsion to Kurdistan-Iraq
22.11.2006
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OSLO, November 22, -- A Norwegian appeal court
on Wednesday upheld a lower court's ruling from
2005 that Norway can legally expel Mullah Krekar,
the founder of radical Islamist group Ansar
al-Islam, to Iraq.
"It was ruled the plaintiff represents a national
security threat which makes his extradition
necessary," according to a copy of the verdict
obtained by AFP.
The decision to expel Krekar would however not be
implemented immediately, the court added.
The court also ordered Krekar to pay 290,000
Norwegian kroner (45,300 dollars, 35,160 euros) in
legal costs.
Wednesday's ruling was the second to reject Krekar's
claim that a 2003 expulsion order was invalid.
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Mullah Krekar, the founder of radical and Terrorist
Islamist group Ansar al-Islam
Photo: AP |
Norwegian authorities decided in February 2003 to
expel Krekar claiming he was a national security
concern, but his deportation was suspended until the
situation in Iraq improves and pending his appeal.
"The ruling will not be enforced for the time being
as the situation in Iraq is of such a nature that
he, due to Norway's obligations under international
law, cannot be sent back there," the court said in
its verdict.
The court ruled that "reasons exist to fear that the
plaintiff has links with terrorist activities and
groups."
Krekar, whose real name is Fateh Najmeddin Faraj,
has lived in Norway as a refugee since 1991, and has
been under threat of deportation since Norwegian
media revealed he was the founder of the radical
Islamist group Ansar al-Islam, included on the
United States' list of terrorist organisations.
The Iraqi Kurd admits that he founded the group but
insists he no longer heads it.
Krekar has said his life would be in danger if he
returns to Iraq.
In June he praised Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden
and the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,
who was killed two weeks earlier.
"Osama bin Laden is a good man. I wish him a long
life. He is a good Muslim and he is against the Bush
administration," Krekar, known for his controversial
statements, told AFP in Oslo.
AFP
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