Iraq wants Krekar extradited

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Controversial mullah Krekar suffered a legal setback when an appeals court ruled Thursday that the decision to expel him as a threat to national security could not be overturned, but the former Ansar al-Islam leader is still not likely to leave Norway soon.
Krekar's legal counsel Brynjar Meling has advised taking appeals all the way to the Supreme Court, to test the ramifications of the case to the limit.
Krekar's battle to avoid expulsion has now gone on for three years, and Meling said his client was tired.
"But I hope that he is ready for a new round in court. The way I see it he has no choice. Traveling back is impossible," Meling said.
Iraq's Justice Minister is seeking Mullah Krekar's extradition, claiming he's wanted for alleged crimes committed in Iraq.

From 09.09.2005
Justice Minister Abdel Hussein Shandal said that Mullah Krekar "is an Iraqi citizen and should appear in court" for alleged crimes in the Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.
"We're building a democratic state, and he will have the right to defend himself and have an attorney," Shandal said.
Shandal also claimed that Krekar wouldn't face the death penalty if he's sent to Iraq. He also promised that Krekar would not be extradited to any other countries if he returns to Iraq. Krekar has previously been sought by officials in Jordan for other alleged crimes.
Shandal said Krekar is suspected of terrorist activity and is charged with being responsible for a string of offenses and terrorist attacks in Northern Iraq when he led guerrilla group Ansar al-Islam.
Iraq's justice minister also charged that Krekar has motivated and encouraged Ansar al-Islam to make new terrorist attacks within Iraq while he's been in exile in Norway.
Krekar is fighting his possible deportation, and recently made remarks that were widely interpreted as threats to Norway if he's sent back.
Krekar denied he has encouraged Ansar al-Islam to attack the Iraqi government. "My case is with Norway," he said "For three years now, I haven't done anything against the Iraqi government
I belive Mr.Krekar is a terrorist and have to be punished. Send him back to Iraq, and he gets a fair trial.
Kilde: Aftenposten

Krekar threatens Norway

Norway's most controversial refugee has lodged a threat against the country that has hosted him and his family for the past 14 years. Mullah Krekar calls his possible deportation "an offense" that shouldn't go unpunished.
Krekar said, in an interview with Arab TV station Al-Jazeera, vowed he will never go along with a deportation order issued by Norwegian authorities. Cabinet Minister Erna Solberg initially ordered him sent out of the country in February 2003, calling Krekar a threat to national security.
Krekar fled Iraq in the early 1990s and landed in Norway in 1991. He later, however, started travelling back to northern Iraq, where he played a key role in building up the guerrilla group known as Ansar al-Islam.
Now Krekar claims he faces torture and a death sentence if the Norwegian authorities send him back to Iraq. He told Al-Jazeera, therefore, that "everyone must know" that a deportation to Iraq "is an offense that shouldn't be made without punishment."
Krekar wasn't specific, however, about what kind of punishment he thinks Norway should receive if a court upholds Solberg's deportation order.
"I have faith in Allah," Krekar told Al-Jazeera in the text of the interview dated August 31. "I defend my rights in their court just like Western people defend their rights. I am patient like they are patient. But if my patience runs out, I will react like Orientals do."
Asked how "Orientals" react, Krekar said: "I don't want to comment on that."
Allah's pardonIn the interview, Krekar also seemed to attack Solberg personally. "How can a politician play with my life to satisfy her adolescent political visions," he asked.
Krekar also spoke positively about suspected terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and developments in the Muslim world. "The whole world must see that Jihad... is increasing in its scope with Allah's pardon," he said. "This trend represents solidarity in the Muslim community."
He added that he thinks "Jihadists" won't ease up "until they see Islam's house equipped with Saladins sable, Mohammed's conquering turban and Osama bin Laden's vision." He thus combined three important symbols used by Islamic extremists.
Remarks downplayedKrekar's Norwegian defense attorney Brynjar Meling downplayed the significance of Krekar's claims in the Al-Jazeera interview, saying they didn't amount to threats and contained nothing new. He declined further comment, though, until he had conferred with his client.
Solberg, meanwhile, responded that "no one can threaten their way into obtaining permanent residence in Norway." She maintains that a new constitution and government in Iraq, with guarantees that Krekar won't be executed, are expected to clear the way for Krekar's expulsion.

"All terrorists are Muslim"

Progress Party leader Carl I. Hagen sees the fight against terrorism as a fight against Islam.
"I know that not all Muslims are terrorists, but we have seen that all terrorists are Muslims," Hagen told Aftenposten after an appearance on TV 2 on Thursday, referring to the attacks in London and New York.
Hagen said that comparisons to Northern Ireland and Basque terrorism in Spain were "national conflicts" that did not fit into the picture.
On TV 2's program Hagen said his party wanted tougher measures to battle terrorism, and said that "we must expel people who resist western values and encourage terrorism". Hagen said that measures must be taken against those who spread fear and rejected the idea that his stance might do the same.
"No, no absolutely not. We fight for democracy and freedom of speech," Hagen said
Shame on you, Mister Hagen