Kurdish Norwegian-based Mullah Krekar
was arrested at his home in Oslo after telling
Norway’s TV Channel (NRK) that the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks in Paris
made him “happy” and that anyone who made cartoons of the Prophet of
Islam deserved to die.
Krekar, an Iraqi Kurd whose real name is
Najmuddin Faraj Ahmad, was charged for “inciting criminal offences” for
the extreme statements, which caused uproar in Norway when the
interview was aired on Wednesday.
“The cartoonist has become an infidel at
war, and therefore it is permissible to kill him,” Krekar told the
interviewer, arguing the attacks were justified under Islamic law.
“As he has trampled on our dignity, our
principles and beliefs, so he must die. Anyone who does not respect 30
percent of the world’s population has no right to live.”
As a result he said, he saw the in
January attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which
left eleven people dead, as something to be celebrated.
“When it comes to what happened in France, naturally I am happy that it happened,” he said.
Vegard Rødås, an inspector with the Oslo police, said that Krekar had in no way resisted arrest.
“Krekar was arrested outside his apartment without any drama,” he told NRK.
Krekar’s lawyer Brynjar Meling said that his client had been well aware that he risked arrest for his provocative statements.
“Krekar is familiar with the
consequences of expressing himself as he has done,” Meling told NRK. “He
has chosen to say what he said.”
Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg
weighed in after the controversial interview was aired to remind
Norwegians that Krekar’s beliefs were not shared by mainstream Muslims.
“I know that these statements are not
representative of most Muslims in Norway,” she said. “We have all
witnessed major commitment for community and unity – and the distance
from extreme attitudes, most recently with the ring of young Muslims
around the synagogue in Oslo.”
Norway’s authorities ruled that Krekar
should be expelled from he country on national security grounds as long
ago as 2003, but because he faces the death penalty if he is returned to
Kurdistan Region, they are prevented from doing so.
Krekar was released from prison in
February, after which police planned to put him in an internal exile,
sending him to the small town in northern Norway.
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