Islamist militant Krekar to be extradited from Norway to Italy

World+Biz

Reuters
12 February, 2020, 08:15 pm
Last modified: 12 February, 2020, 08:17 pm
Krekar failed to avert extradition in the Norwegian courts, and the Justice Ministry on Wednesday gave its approval
FILE PHOTO: A view of the Norwegian Supreme Court in Oslo, Norway May 23, 2018. REUTERS/Gwladys Fouche/File Photo

An Iraqi Kurdish Islamist suspected of plotting attacks in Europe and the Middle East will be extradited from Norway to Italy, the Justice Ministry in Oslo said on Wednesday.

Najmuddin Faraj Ahmad, better known as Mullah Krekar, a former leader of the Ansar al-Islam militant group, won refugee status together with his family in Norway in the early 1990s.

In 2015, Italian authorities said that at least 15 suspected members of a militant group including Krekar had been arrested in six European countries on suspicion of planning attacks.

Krekar failed to avert extradition in the Norwegian courts, and the Justice Ministry on Wednesday gave its approval.

An appeal to the full cabinet is possible, but on past evidence is unlikely to succeed.

Krekar has been arrested several times during his years in Norway, once for threats against Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

Related Topics

Norway / Italy

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