In early January 2012, Krekar had announced in an interview with Kurdish online newspaper Rudaw that he would be leaving Norway and returning to the Kurdistan region soon, saying “My return to the Kurdistan region has become a major political issue.” He also predicted that, “My death will cost Norwegian society. If, for example, Erna Solberg throws me out of the country and I die as a result, she will suffer the same fate.”
The three Oslo court judges said the threat was aimed at pushing Norwegian authorities to retract the expulsion order. He has as of 8 December 2006 been on the UN terror list, and as of 8 November 2007 been judged by the High Court of Norway as a “danger to national security”.
Krekar, whose name is on terrorist lists drawn up by the United Nations and the United States, has avoided expulsion since the order was signed nine years ago since Norwegian law prevents him from being deported to Iraq until his safety can be guaranteed and as long as he risks the death penalty there.
About Krekar
Mullah Krekar is a Kurdish origin Iraqi who came to Norway as a refugee from northern Iraq in 1991. His wife and four children have Norwegian citizenship, but not Krekar himself. Krekar was the original leader of a terrorist organization, which was set up and commenced operations in Kurdistan while he had refugee status in Norway. Since February 2003 he has an expulsion order against him, which is suspended pending Iraqi government guarantees that he will not face torture or execution. Norway is committed to international treaties which prohibit the expulsion of an individual without such a guarantee.
In February 2003 the Norwegian government ordered Krekar to be deported to Iraq, but as of July 2009 the order had not been implemented because of the security environment in Iraq, and the risk that Krekar could face the death penalty there. Krekar has unsuccessfully challenged the expulsion order in court, with the order being confirmed in September 2005. Norway’s government has said that the new government to be elected in Iraq in December 2005 might permit discussion on whether Krekar’s expulsion order can be implemented
Facebook group collecting donations for the assassination of Mullah Krekar
In November 2007, Norwegian newspapers published the story that a Facebook group had been set up, dedicated to collecting money which would eventually go to an assassin, should one be located. The group statement started with “For the murder of Norway’s enemy #1”. The 28-year old man who started the group went on to publicize not only his full name, but also a bank account number where money could be deposited. The group had approximately 400 members when Krekar’s lawyer deemed the threat “serious” and said he “hoped the police would investigate the people involved”. The 28-year old told Norwegian media that the statement was facetious and thus should not be taken literally.
