Mullah Krekar

{{Short description|First leader of the Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan and Ansar al-Islam}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = {{unbulleted list center|{{transliteration|ar|Emir}}|{{transliteration|ar|Mullah}}}}

| name = Najmadin Faraj Ahmad

| native_name = {{Nobold|{{lang|ckb|نه‌جمه‌دین وه‌حید فه‌ره‌ج ئه‌حمه‌د}}}}

| native_name_lang = ckb

| image = Mullah Krekar.jpg

| caption = Mullah Krekar at a Rawti Shax protest against the Quran burnings in Europe

| order = Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan

| primeminister =

| term_start = September 2001

| term_end = 30 March 2003

| term_label = In office

| predecessor = Office established

| successor = Office abolished

| term_start1 =

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 =

| successor1 =

| 1blankname1 = Deputies

| 1namedata1 = {{ubl|Wirya Salih|Ali Bapir}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|07|07}}

| birth_place = Sulaymaniyah, Kingdom of Iraq

| death_date =

| height =

| spouse = Rukhosh Ahmad

| children = 4

| relatives =

| allegiance = {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg}} Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan

| branch = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Taliban.svg}} Kurdistan Islamic Movement (1991–2001)
{{flagicon image|Flag of Ansar al-Islam.svg}} Ansar al-Islam (2001–2003)

| serviceyears = 1991–2003

| battles = {{tree list}}

Islamist insurgency in Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraq War
Operation Viking Hammer
Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)

| footnotes =

}}

Najmadin Faraj Ahmad{{efn|{{langx|ku|نەجمەدین فەرەج ئەحمەد}}}} (7 July 1956),{{cite news |date=12 February 2020 |title=Islamist militant Krekar to be extradited from Norway to Italy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-norway-islamist-italy/islamist-militant-krekar-to-be-extradited-from-norway-to-italy-idUSKBN2061V1 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Reuters}} better known as Mullah Krekar,{{efn|{{langx|ku|مه‌لا کرێکار}}}} is an Iraqi Kurdish Sunni Islamic scholar and militant leader. He was a commander for the Peshmerga unit belonging to the Kurdistan Islamic Movement during the 1991 Iraqi uprisings. Later, he founded Ansar al-Islam in 2001, and left for Norway in 2003, where he founded Rawti Shax. He was arrested and is currently serving a prison sentence in Italy, after having been extradited from Norway in 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.snl.no/Mulla_Krekar |title=Mulla Krekar – Store norske leksikon |publisher=Snl.no |date= |accessdate=2021-12-17 |archive-date=2021-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026163005/https://snl.no/Mulla_Krekar |url-status=live }} He came to Norway as a refugee from Iraqi Kurdistan in 1991. His wife, Rukhosh Ahmad,{{Cite news|url=https://www.krekar.co/About|title=پاش ئەوەی لە مانگی ٨/ی ساڵی ١٩٨٤ دەگەڕێتەوە شاری سلێمانی، لە ٢٢/٧/١٩٨٤ژیانی ھاوسەری لەگەڵ خاتو ڕوخۆش ئەحمەد پێک دەھێنێت کە پێشتر یەکیان ناسیوەو|last=|first=|date=|work=|access-date=March 20, 2020 |via=|publisher=krekar.co}} and his four children have Norwegian citizenship, but not Krekar himself. He speaks Kurdish, Arabic, Persian, Norwegian and English.{{Cite news|url=https://www.krekar.co/About|title=ژیاننامەی مەلا کرێکار|last=|first=|date=|work=|access-date=|via=|publisher=krekar.co}} He had no relation to Jama'at Ansar al-Islam, which emerged long after Ansar al-Islam disbanded.

Krekar was the original leader of the Islamist armed group Ansar al-Islam, which was set up and commenced operations in Northern Iraq while he had refugee status in Norway. Krekar claims, however, not to have had foreknowledge of the various terrorist attacks performed by the group he was leading. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/Whats-new/news/2009/conditions_krekar.html?id=571419|title=Conditions for the return of Mullah Krekar to Iraq remain unchanged|first=Ministry of Foreign|last=Affairs|date=19 July 2009|access-date=31 May 2011|archive-date=11 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311045002/http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/Whats-new/news/2009/conditions_krekar.html?id=571419|url-status=live}}

Kurdish authorities in the Kurdistan Regional Government have repeatedly asked for Mullah Krekar to be extradited from Norway. The death penalty remains on the books in the Kurdistan region. Most death sentences have been changed into life sentences since the Kurdish authorities took power in 1992, the exception being that eleven alleged members of Ansar al-Islam were hanged in the regional capital of Erbil in October 2006. He has as of 8 December 2006 been on the UN terror list,"[http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=148318 mullah Krekar oppført på FNs terrorliste] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011022306/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=148318 |date=2012-10-11 }}", VG and as of 8 November 2007 been judged by the Supreme Court of Norway as a "danger to national security"."[http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/1.3987075 Høyesterett: Mulla Krekar fare for rikets sikkerhet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623055401/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/1.3987075 |date=2011-06-23 }}", NRK

On March 26, 2012, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison for making repeated death threats against Norwegian politicians and the Kurds if they pursued certain civil actions against him. He has appealed this prison sentence. The next day, March 27, 2012, he was arrested by the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) and Norwegian Police and taken into protective custody and incarceration. This occurred after certain additional statements of a threatening nature were linked to him, suggesting that others might take retaliatory actions against Norwegians if his civil prison sentence were implemented."[http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/27/nyheter/mulla_krekar/pst/varetekt/innenriks/20865736/ PST vil varetektsfengsle Krekar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328115212/http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/27/nyheter/mulla_krekar/pst/varetekt/innenriks/20865736/ |date=2012-03-28 }}", Dagbladet

In 2020, he was extradited to Italy."[https://www.nrk.no/norge/krekar-sendt-ut-av-landet-_-frp-feirer-med-kake-1.14961558 Krekar sendt ut av landet – Frp feirer med kake] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326150433/https://www.nrk.no/norge/krekar-sendt-ut-av-landet-_-frp-feirer-med-kake-1.14961558 |date=2020-03-26 }}", NRK. "[...] på en hasteinnkalt pressekonferanse torsdag ettermiddag. – Krekar er ikke lenger i Norge. Krekar er i dag utlevert til Italia, sa Mæland." In 2022, his 12-year prison sentence was upheld when the Italian Supreme Court rejected his appeal.https://www.nrk.no/norge/krekar-saken-endelig-avgjort-i-italia-1.15973983. Nrk.no. Retrieved 20 May 2022

Early life

Mullah Krekar joined the KDP branch of the Peshmerga in 1974. He claimed that the Kurdish resistance movement in Iraq collapsed due to the "American conspiracy" that forced Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to close Iranian borders to the Iraqi Kurds in 1975 and sign an agreement with Saddam Hussein in Algeria. He became religious during his stay in Erbil in 1975. He lived in Iran from 1982 to 1984. After failing sociology at the University of Tehran, he worked as an imam. He studied forensic sciences among Sunni scholars, and moved to Pakistan in 1985 to study. While in Iran, Mullah Krekar worked with a number of Kurds in Tehran to establish a jihadist organization against the regime of Saddam Hussein. He blamed the failure of the project on the Iranian government. He settled in Karachi, where he studied until the Halabja massacre, which led him to quit his studies and work as a relief volunteer at camps in Iran and Turkey. Krekar claimed that Taliban-affiliated jihadists in Peshawar raised over a hundred thousand dollars for those affected.{{Cite web |date=2005-06-09 |title=الملا كريكار يروي أمام القضاء النرويجي علاقته بالقاعدة والزنداني وعمر عبدالرحمن |url=https://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2005/06/09/13803 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=العربية |language=ar}}

He returned to Iraqi Kurdistan during the 1991 Iraqi uprisings and joined the Kurdistan Islamic Movement led by Osman Abdulaziz.Romano, David. 2007. An outline of Kurdish Islamist groups in Iraq', pp. 8-10Shareef, Mohammed. 2015. 'Kurdish Islamists in Iraq: from the Muslim Brotherhood to the So-Called Islamic State: Continuity or Departure?, pp. 27-31Obeid, Adel Ahmad. 2010. 'L'islamisme en mutation : Une étude pluridiscipli- naire sur la mouvance islamiste kurde, pp. 80-87 He became the military commander of the Kurdistan Islamic Movement until 2001 when he left it to form the Islah group, later merging with Jund al-Islam to form Ansar al-Islam. He also seized control of the Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan from the IMK.”Mullah Krekar”, Society for Recognition of Famous People, Date unknown. Web. 27 July 2015; Romano, David. "An Outline of Kurdish Islamist Groups in Iraq." The Jamestown Foundation, September 2007. Web. 27 July 2015.

Krekar in Norway

=Proceedings against Krekar=

Krekar was born to a religious Sunni Kurdish family in the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq. In August 2002, while Krekar was in Iraq, the Norwegian government revoked his refugee status on the grounds that he had traveled back to his homeland and spent long periods there.{{cite web|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article389298.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202060435/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article389298.ece|url-status=dead|title=mullah Krekar loses refugee status|archive-date=December 2, 2005}}

Krekar was arrested in the Netherlands at Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam in September 2002, after Iran denied him entry and sent him back to Europe. He was interviewed by FBI agents (at Krekar's request, in an attempt to clear his and his group's name); no extradition request was made.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2285703.stm|title=FBI questions Iraqi Kurd militant|date=27 September 2002|via=bbc.co.uk|access-date=11 December 2005|archive-date=13 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313183711/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2285703.stm|url-status=live}} He was deported to Norway in January 2003.

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, as Norway will not deport people in these circumstances. 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.{{r|AP28Oct05}}

On March 21, 2003 his arrest was ordered by Økokrim, the Norwegian law enforcement agency for financial crime, to ensure he did not leave the country while accusations that he had financed terrorist attacks using Norway as a base were investigated. Court proceedings against Krekar were however dropped when it proved impossible to prove his connections with the terrorist attacks staged in Iraq by Ansar al-Islam during his leadership. His term as leader ended.

The United States government has declared Ansar al-Islam a terrorist group, but Krekar denies that it was during the time he headed it, and says he no longer does. While Krekar has not been found guilty of anything, a number of his opinions have met little sympathy; he was once recorded claiming that Osama bin Laden is the "jewel in the crown of Islam".[http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=280358 -Osama bin Laden is a good Muslim] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128233330/http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=280358 |date=2007-01-28 }} VG and that he was proud of what Abu Musab al-Zarqawi "has done and that he has become a martyr".[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1362852.ece Krekar honors al-Zarqawi] Aftenposten {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628002238/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1362852.ece |date=28 June 2006 }}

In September 2005 the Iraqi Justice Minister Abdel Hussein Shandal said that Krekar was wanted in Iraq and should be tried there.{{r|UPISep05}}

About the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, he said to the Norwegian media "This is a declaration of war against of our religion, our faith, and our civilization. We Muslims are ready for this."[http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/verden/article550497.ece - Now this is war] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023181758/http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/verden/article550497.ece |date=2008-10-23 }} TV 2

Krekar told the Kurdish magazine Awene that he wants to return to Iraq to fight openly against the Iraqi government and the coalition, but that he lacked travel documents from the Norwegian government. He confirmed to a Norwegian newspaper that he had been correctly quoted.[http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2006/06/22/469615.html -Jeg vil reise hjem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023152259/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2006/06/22/469615.html |date=2008-10-23 }} Dagbladet The Norwegian minister of labour and migration, Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, responded that Krekar could leave at any time and that he would be given "travel documents within the day. He'll also get money for airline tickets, taxi cab, and the whole deal. If he really wants to go, that is."[http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2006/06/22/469666.html "Hvis Krekar vil til Irak, skal han få reisedokumenter på dagen"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023153042/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2006/06/22/469666.html |date=2008-10-23 }} Dagbladet

On December 7, 2006, the United States Department of the Treasury designated Mullah Krekar as one of five individuals providing financial support to terrorist organizations. In a statement he is accused of providing funds for Ansar al-Sunnah, an active Iraqi terror-organization descended from Ansar al-Islam. The press release states that "This designation freezes any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits all financial and commercial transactions by any U.S. person with the designees".{{cite web|url=http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp191.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212212349/http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp191.htm|url-status=dead|title=Treasury Designations Target Terrorist Facilitators|archive-date=December 12, 2006}} Mullah Krekar was later that day added to the United Nations Security Council list of individuals belonging to or associated with the Al-Qaeda organization.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8893.doc.htm|title=SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ADDS TWO INDIVIDUALS TO AL-QAIDA SECTION OF CONSOLIDATED LIST - Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|access-date=2017-06-29|archive-date=2013-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604062601/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8893.doc.htm|url-status=live}} All member states of the United Nations are obliged to freeze assets and prevent entry or transit through their territories with regard to the individuals included on the list. Anders Romarheim, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, believes that the placement of Mullah Krekar on this list is a United States strategy to put pressure on Norway.[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1563005.ece Krekar tops US terrorist list] Aftenposten {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213175338/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1563005.ece |date=13 December 2006 }}

On November 8, 2007, the Supreme Court of Norway ruled that Krekar is a threat to Norway's national security, thus upholding the February 2003 decision by the government to deport him to Iraq. It is still unclear when Krekar will be deported due to Iraq's death penalty laws. Some politicians asked for Krekar to be put in jail until he is deported.[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2092073.ece Krekar Can Go] Aftenposten {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109153531/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2092073.ece |date=9 November 2007 }}

=Threat against Mariwan Halabjaee=

In an audio file published on the Kurdish website Renesans.nu during September 2008, Krekar allegedly threatened to kill Mariwan Halabjaee, the Iraqi Kurdish author of Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam, who also resided in Norway. "I swear that we will not live if you live. Either you go before us, or we go before you," said Krekar.{{YouTube|id=Duww2LoEdVU|title=Renesans.nu - Mariwan Halabjaee Threatened by Mullah Krekar}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2677263.ece|title= Mener forfatter fortjener dødsstraff|author= Kristian Aale|date= 27 Sep 2008|work= Aftenposten|accessdate= 23 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120202000940/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2677263.ece|archive-date= 2 February 2012}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/09/27/548371.html|title= Krekar drapstruet meg|author= Martine Aurdal, Tore Gjerstad|date= 27 September 2008|work= Dagbladet.no|accessdate= 23 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120114005155/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/09/27/548371.html|archive-date= 14 January 2012}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.namdalsavisa.no/Innenriks/article3813132.ece|title= Krekar hardt ut mot forfatter|date= 27 September 2008|work= Namdalsavisa.no|accessdate= 23 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120113210709/http://www.namdalsavisa.no/Innenriks/article3813132.ece|archive-date= 13 January 2012}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=530601|title= Krekar mener forfatter fortjener dødsstraff - Vi forbyr oss selv livet dersom du lever|date= 27 September 2008|work= VG.no|accessdate= 23 April 2012|archive-date= 22 July 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130722110221/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=530601|url-status= live}} Krekar compared Halabjaee with Salman Rushdie and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.{{cite web|url= http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2677263.ece|title= Mener forfatter fortjener dødsstraff|author= Kristian Aale|date= 27 Sep 2008|work= Aftenposten|accessdate= 23 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120202000940/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2677263.ece|archive-date= 2 February 2012}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/09/27/548371.html|title= Krekar drapstruet meg|author= Martine Aurdal, Tore Gjerstad|date= 27 September 2008|work= Dagbladet.no|accessdate= 23 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120114005155/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/09/27/548371.html|archive-date= 14 January 2012}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.namdalsavisa.no/Innenriks/article3813132.ece|title= Krekar hardt ut mot forfatter|date= 27 September 2008|work= Namdalsavisa.no|accessdate= 23 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120113210709/http://www.namdalsavisa.no/Innenriks/article3813132.ece|archive-date= 13 January 2012}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=530601|title= Krekar mener forfatter fortjener dødsstraff - Vi forbyr oss selv livet dersom du lever|date= 27 September 2008|work= VG.no|accessdate= 23 April 2012|archive-date= 22 July 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130722110221/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=530601|url-status= live}}

In February 2012, Krekar confirmed in the Oslo District Court that he had issued a twenty-page fatwa against Halabjaee.{{cite web|url= http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/02/17/nyheter/krekar/trusler/terrorisme/politiets_sikkerhetstjeneste/20283255/|title= Jeg frykter hele tida at noen skal komme bakfra og drepe meg|author= Harald S. Klungtveit|date= 17 February 2012|work= Dagbladet.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|archive-date= 21 April 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120421203908/http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/02/17/nyheter/krekar/trusler/terrorisme/politiets_sikkerhetstjeneste/20283255/|url-status= live}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/jeg-kommer-til-aa-halshugge-deg-uansett-hvor-du-er-3716605.html|title= Jeg kommer til å halshugge deg, uansett hvor du er|author= Eivind Fondenes|date= 23 February 2012|work= TV2.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|archive-date= 16 March 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120316053546/http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/jeg-kommer-til-aa-halshugge-deg-uansett-hvor-du-er-3716605.html|url-status= live}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/krim/vil-ha-fem-aars-fengsel-for-krekar-3719633.html|title= Vil ha fem års fengsel for Krekar|author= Kjell Persen|date= 28 February 2012|work= TV2.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|archive-date= 1 March 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120301203111/http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/krim/vil-ha-fem-aars-fengsel-for-krekar-3719633.html|url-status= live}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/denne-koranbrenningen-fikk-krekar-til-aa-utstede-fatwa-mot-to-kurdere-3717058.html|title= Denne koranbrenningen fikk Krekar til å utstede fatwa mot to kurdere|author= Eivind Fondenes|date= 25 February 2012|work= TV2.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|archive-date= 1 March 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120301120532/http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/denne-koranbrenningen-fikk-krekar-til-aa-utstede-fatwa-mot-to-kurdere-3717058.html|url-status= live}}
*{{cite web|url= http://m.nrk.no/m/artikkel.jsp?art_id=18000500|title= Avsa dødsdom mot forfatter|author= Anders Brekke|date= 17 February 2012|work= NRK.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120711014957/http://m.nrk.no/m/artikkel.jsp?art_id=18000500|archive-date= 11 July 2012}}
*{{cite web|url= http://debatt.sol.no/content/krekar-utsteder-dodsdommer|title= Krekar utsteder dødsdommer|author= Lilla Puddel|date= 17 February 2012|work= Dagbladet.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120707183050/http://debatt.sol.no/content/krekar-utsteder-dodsdommer|archive-date= 7 July 2012}} The fatwa was sent to several hundred Islamic scholars around the world. While Krekar said he thought he might be able to "guarantee the safety" of Halabjaee, Krekar confirmed that his fatwa "implies" that it is "permissible" to kill Halabjaee in Oslo or anywhere else. Krekar compared Halabjaee to Theo van Gogh, the film director who was killed by an Islamist in the Netherlands in 2004.

=Terrorism charges against Krekar=

File:Mulla Krekar.jpg]]

On July 12, 2011, terrorism charges were filed against Krekar for a death threat he uttered against ex-minister Erna Solberg during a news conference in June 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/n8Mko/pst-vil-ha-krekar-tiltalt-for-terrortrusler |title=PST vil ha Krekar tiltalt for terrortrusler – VG |publisher=Vg.no |date=2011-01-20 |accessdate=2021-12-17 |archive-date=2021-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308144404/https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/n8Mko/pst-vil-ha-krekar-tiltalt-for-terrortrusler |url-status=live }}

= Allegations of a U.S. plan to seize Krekar =

In 2003, agents for the CIA, including Cynthia Dame Logan and Gregory Asherleighs, were sent to Norway.{{cite news

|url = http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1397884.ece?service=print

|title = Suspect CIA agents were in Norway

|work = Aftenposten

|author = Jonathan Tisdall

|date = 2006-07-24

|accessdate = 2009-03-07

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604020639/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1397884.ece?service=print

|archive-date = 4 June 2011

|url-status = dead

}}{{cite news

|url = http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article1397211.ece

|title = Miles revealed CIA agents

|work = Aftenposten

|author = KRISTJAN Molstad

|date = 2006-07-24

|accessdate = 2009-03-07

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081023103309/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article1397211.ece

|archive-date = 2008-10-23

}} [http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article1397211.ece&ei=s2GySem9F4KyNM_l7cYE&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=4&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Cynthia%2BDame%2BLogan%2522%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3Da9F%26sa%3DG%26num%3D100%26newwindow%3D1 translation], [https://web.archive.org/web/20081023103309/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article1397211.ece mirror]{{cite news

|url = http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1406229.ece

|title = Norwegian intelligence knew of CIA agents

|work = Aftenposten

|date = 2006-08-01

|accessdate = 2009-03-07

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081023103303/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1406229.ece

|archive-date = 2008-10-23

}} [http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1406229.ece&ei=SGqySfCuGIqeMpqsxOYE&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1406229.ece%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG%26num%3D100%26newwindow%3D1 translation], [https://web.archive.org/web/20081023103303/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1406229.ece mirror]

They arrived directly after the abduction of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr from Milan, Italy. A few days before their arrival, Mullah Krekar's lawyer, Brynjar Meling, asked for police protection of Krekar. The Norwegian Intelligence Service admits it had knowledge of the agents' visit to Norway, and Meling confirms he had heard rumours that Krekar was to be kidnapped and transferred to Guantanamo Bay. If the operation was not approved beforehand by Norway it would have been a violation of Norwegian law. Mullah Krekar was not kidnapped. According to an article in Newsweek, a Pentagon official proposed inserting a US Navy SEAL team to engage in a "snatch rope" operation against Krekar; however, the plan was allegedly rejected because a shooting confrontation between the SEALs and Norwegian police would have triggered a diplomatic disaster between Norway and the United States.{{cite news

| url=http://mobile.newsweek.com/detail.jsp?key=5983&rc=hose_co&p=0&all=1

| title=Hitting the Pocketbook

| work=Newsweek

| author=Michael Isikoff, Mark Hosenball

| date=2006-12-13

| accessdate=2009-03-07

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174950/http://mobile.newsweek.com/detail.jsp?key=5983&rc=hose_co&p=0&all=1

| archive-date=2011-07-14

| url-status=dead

}}

However, a week later the Los Angeles Times quoted a high ranking intelligence official who claimed that U.S. special forces were in fact inserted in a European country allied with the United States through NATO, in order to carry out a snatch operation under strikingly similar circumstances to the Krekar case. The revelation led to suspicion that the plan was in fact not cancelled, as the Pentagon had stated. According to the Norwegian newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, which was the original source of the CIA agents' mission in Oslo, the U.S. special forces, most likely Navy SEALs, had been monitoring a "militant leader" over a period of time, and were in place ready to carry out the snatch. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Pentagon kept the allied country's government in the dark about the mission, which apparently failed or was aborted.

{{cite news

| url=http://web3.aftenbladet.no/innenriks/politikk/article388864.ece

| title=Amerikanske soldater på spionjakt i Norge

| work=Stavanger Aftenblad

| author=Jan-Petter Helgesen

| date=2006-12-21

| accessdate=2009-07-27

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102150444/http://web3.aftenbladet.no/innenriks/politikk/article388864.ece

| archive-date=2007-01-02

| url-status=dead

}}

=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".[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2110818.ece Taking donations for the assassination of Krekar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121061718/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2110818.ece |date=2007-11-21 }} Aftenposten The 28-year-old told Norwegian media that the statement was facetious and thus should not be taken literally.

=Assassination attempt=

During the night of 24 January 2010, 3 shots were fired through one of the windows of Krekar's apartment in Oslo. The attack was investigated as an assassination attempt. Krekar's son-in-law was mildly injured by one of the bullets.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3482898.ece Politiet etterforsker Krekar-angrep som drapsforsøk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128041553/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3482898.ece |date=2010-01-28 }} Aftenposten 2010-01-25. Kurdish groups were cited as possible or likely perpetrators.{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3483818.ece|title=- Kurdiske grupper kan stå bak Krekar-angrep|first=Lars|last=Akerhaug|work=Aftneposten|date=25 January 2010|access-date=26 January 2010|archive-date=27 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127014432/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3483818.ece|url-status=live}}

=Decision to leave Norway=

In early January 2012, Krekar announced in an interview with a Kurdish online newspaper Rudaw from the Kurdish Autonomous Region 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 (Norwegian Prime Minister) throws me out of the country and I die as a result, she will suffer the same fate."[http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Fiery_Muslim_leader_to_leave_Norway_999.html Fiery Muslim leader to leave Norway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130072240/http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Fiery_Muslim_leader_to_leave_Norway_999.html |date=2012-01-30 }}, spacewar.com, 5 January 2012, accessed 6 January 2012

=Conviction for death threats=

On 26 March 2012, Krekar was sentenced to 5 years in prison for making death threats.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/world/europe/norway-cleric-sentenced-for-threats.html?_r=2&scp=8&sq=Norwegian&st=cse|title= Norway: Cleric Sentenced for Threats|agency= Associated Press|date= 27 March 2012|work= The New York Times|accessdate= 25 April 2012|archive-date= 14 December 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191214214306/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/world/europe/norway-cleric-sentenced-for-threats.html?_r=2&scp=8&sq=Norwegian&st=cse|url-status= live}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/27/nyheter/mulla_krekar/pst/varetekt/innenriks/20865736/|title= PST ønsker å ha ham sittende bak lås og slå til lagmannsrettssaken|author= Gunnar Hult Green|date= 27 March 2012|work= Dagbladet.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|archive-date= 28 March 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120328115212/http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/27/nyheter/mulla_krekar/pst/varetekt/innenriks/20865736/|url-status= live}} He appealed. On 26 March 2012, Krekar was re-arrested for making threats against two Kurds and the Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg.{{cite web|url= http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/27/nyheter/mulla_krekar/pst/varetekt/innenriks/20865736/|title= PST ønsker å ha ham sittende bak lås og slå til lagmannsrettssaken|author= Gunnar Hult Green|date= 27 March 2012|work= Dagbladet.no|accessdate= 25 April 2012|archive-date= 28 March 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120328115212/http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/27/nyheter/mulla_krekar/pst/varetekt/innenriks/20865736/|url-status= live}} On August 29, 2012, Oslo District Court tacked an additional year onto the five Mullah Krekar had been sentenced to in March 2012.{{cite news |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/Norwegian+court+convicts+Islamic+cleric+online+death+threats+gives/7161033/story.html |title=Norwegian court convicts Islamic cleric of online death threats, gives him 1 year in prison |publisher=the Associated Press |date=August 29, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

=Decision on appeal=

On 6 December 2012, the Court of Appeal acquitted Krekar of charges of incitement to terrorism, but found Krekar guilty of four counts of intimidation under aggravating circumstances.{{cite web|url= http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Mullah-Krekar-fikk-redusert-straff-i-lagmannsretten-7063523.html|title= Mullah Krekar fikk redusert straff i lagmannsretten|author= Svend Ole Kvilesjø , Lene Li Dragland|date= 6 December 2012|work= Aftenposten|accessdate= 9 December 2012|archive-date= 9 December 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121209033847/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Mullah-Krekar-fikk-redusert-straff-i-lagmannsretten-7063523.html|url-status= live}} The Court of Appeal ordered that Krekar pay 130,000 kroner in damages compensation to each of the three Kurds he threatened, and to serve two years and ten months in prison, less the 255 days he was in custody.

=Political advocacy=

For the 2013 Norwegian parliamentary election Krekar called on Muslims in Norway to vote for either the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party or the Red Party. He explained that since there was not yet enough Muslims in Norway to form a separate political bloc, Muslims had many strategies in common with Norwegian leftists.[http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valget-2013/mullah-krekar-stem-paa-ap-sv-eller-roedt/a/10134673/ "Mullah Krekar: - Stem på Ap, SV eller Rødt"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804003846/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valget-2013/mullah-krekar-stem-paa-ap-sv-eller-roedt/a/10134673/ |date=2015-08-04 }}. VG. 28 August 2013.

=Relocation=

On 20 January 2015, it was revealed that Krekar would be forcibly relocated ({{langx|no|tvangsbosettes}}) to the village of Kyrksæterøra in Trøndelag.Verdens Gang: [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/mullah-krekar/tidligere-langrennsstjerne-vi-skal-ta-krekar-godt-imot/a/23378055/ Tidligere langrennsstjerne: – Vi skal ta Krekar godt imot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120233119/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/mullah-krekar/tidligere-langrennsstjerne-vi-skal-ta-krekar-godt-imot/a/23378055/ |date=2015-01-20 }} This decision was made by the Police based on an order from the National Police Directorate.Politi.no: [https://www.politi.no/nyhet_14646.xhtml Instruks om oppholdssted/meldeplikt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121014409/https://www.politi.no/nyhet_14646.xhtml |date=2015-01-21 }}

=February 2015 arrest=

On 20 February 2015, it was reported that Krekar had been arrested. Krekar is quoted in this article saying that when a cartoonist "tramples on our dignity, our principles and our faith, he must die." The aforementioned article also reports that, "Krekar, who was only freed from prison late last month, was arrested Thursday night on accusations of inciting crime, police said." Therefore, the primary reason for Krekar's arrest by the Norwegian Police was the allegation that he incited crime by his statements. The article cites no other reason for Krekar's arrest.

Krekar's statements refer to the Charlie Hebdo newspaper whose cartoonists were gunned down in Paris for allegedly drawing cartoons that Kreker refers to. The attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris was described by the French President François Hollande who said, "An act of exceptional barbarism has been committed in Paris against a newspaper. A paper, in other words, an organ of free speech."{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2015/01/07/francois-hollande-condemns-cowardly-attack-on-satirical-paper-charlie-hebdo|title=François Hollande condemns 'cowardly' attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo|date=January 7, 2015|website=euronews|access-date=January 3, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103112151/https://www.euronews.com/2015/01/07/francois-hollande-condemns-cowardly-attack-on-satirical-paper-charlie-hebdo|url-status=live}}

=November 2015 arrest=

On 13 November 2015 it was reported that Krekar was arrested in prison[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34802317 "Jihadist cell in Europe 'sought recruits for Iraq and Syria.'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418173322/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34802317 |date=2016-04-18 }} BBC News Retrieved November 13, 2015. in Norway on 11 November "in a coordinated police swoop on Islamist militants planning attacks." He and 14 other Iraqi Kurds and one Kosovar Albanian, were "arrested in countries across Europe in collaboration with police from Italy, the UK, Norway, Finland, Germany and Switzerland."[http://rudaw.net/english/world/12112015 "15 Islamist Kurds suspected of planning attacks arrested across Europe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115235706/http://rudaw.net/english/world/12112015 |date=2015-11-15 }}. Rudaw Retrieved November 13, 2015. The BBC reported that the raids targeted Rawti Shax, an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-linked jihadist network suspected to be led by Krekar. According to the investigation, Krekar pledged allegiance to ISIL in 2014.{{Cite news|title=Slik styrte Krekar terrornettverket|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2015/11/12/nyheter/innenriks/terror/mulla_krekar/trusler/41921802/|work=Dagbladet|date=12 November 2015|language=no|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513150331/http://www.dagbladet.no/2015/11/12/nyheter/innenriks/terror/mulla_krekar/trusler/41921802/|url-status=live}}

=November 2016 arrest=

On 23 November 2016 the Norwegian Police Security Service arrested Krekar in order to secure his extradition to Italy. 30 November 2016, it was reported that Italy had withdrawn their extradition claim, and Krekar was released from prison.{{Cite news|title=Mulla Krekar arrested - may be extradited to Italy|url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/mulla-krekar-pagrepet-_-kan-utleveres-til-italia-1.13241126|work=NRK|date=24 November 2016|language=no|access-date=12 December 2018|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809032021/https://www.nrk.no/norge/mulla-krekar-pagrepet-_-kan-utleveres-til-italia-1.13241126|url-status=live}} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=no&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nrk.no%2Fnorge%2Fmulla-krekar-pagrepet-_-kan-utleveres-til-italia-1.13241126&edit-text=&act=url machine translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217203446/https://www-nrk-no.translate.goog/norge/mulla-krekar-pagrepet-_-kan-utleveres-til-italia-1.13241126?_x_tr_sl=no&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en |date=2021-12-17 }})

=July 2019 arrest=

In July 2019, it was reported that Krekar was arrested in Oslo. His arrest was requested by Italian authorities as they suspected that he has led Rawti Shax, an offshoot on Ansar al-Islam. A court in Bolzano, Italy sentenced him to 12 years in prison in absentia.{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2019/07/16/mullah-krekar-arrested-in-norway_143dfbcd-1b8e-4462-a39f-f07c6bc14d82.html|title=Mullah Krekar arrested in Norway - English|date=July 16, 2019|website=ANSA.it|access-date=August 2, 2019|archive-date=August 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802214726/http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2019/07/16/mullah-krekar-arrested-in-norway_143dfbcd-1b8e-4462-a39f-f07c6bc14d82.html|url-status=live}} Italy has requested his extradition with the intent of deporting him to Iraqi Kurdistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrttv.com/en/News.aspx?id=14181&MapID=1|title=Italy submits request that Norway extradite Mullah Krekar|first=Nalia|last=Corporation|website=www.nrttv.com|access-date=2019-08-02|archive-date=2019-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802070930/http://www.nrttv.com/en/News.aspx?id=14181&MapID=1|url-status=live}} Krekar has denied the charges against him, calling the case "fake".{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Norway-holds-Muslim-cleric-for-4-weeks-after-14104351.php |title=Norway holds Muslim cleric for 4 weeks after Italy trial - SFGate |access-date=2019-08-16 |archive-date=2019-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816213353/https://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Norway-holds-Muslim-cleric-for-4-weeks-after-14104351.php |url-status=dead }}

Italy

He is being held at a prison in Milan (as of 2021).{{cite web |url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/innsamlede-penger-terror-frosset_-krekar-far-ikke-betalt-italiensk-advokat-1.15489615 |title=Innsamlede penger terror-frosset: Krekar får ikke betalt italiensk advokat – NRK Norge – Oversikt over nyheter fra ulike deler av landet |publisher=Nrk.no |date= 13 May 2021|accessdate=2021-12-17 |archive-date=2021-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119163720/https://www.nrk.no/norge/innsamlede-penger-terror-frosset_-krekar-far-ikke-betalt-italiensk-advokat-1.15489615 |url-status=live }}

= Rawti Shax terrorist cell trial =

In 2019, Krekar was found to be the leader of the jihadi defence cell Rawti Shax and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.{{cite web|title=Il Mullah Krekar condannato a 12 anni per terrorismo - TGR Bolzano|url=https://www.rainews.it/tgr/bolzano/articoli/2019/07/blz-Mullah-Krekar-condannato-12-anni-terrorismo-befa6970-c8bd-469d-a9bf-2cb49607cb8c.html|access-date=2020-08-04|website=TGR|date=15 July 2019 |archive-date=2020-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020140652/https://www.rainews.it/tgr/bolzano/articoli/2019/07/blz-Mullah-Krekar-condannato-12-anni-terrorismo-befa6970-c8bd-469d-a9bf-2cb49607cb8c.html|url-status=live}} The guilty verdict and the sentence were upheld in a trial in Bolzano.{{cite web|date=2020-07-10|title=Mullah Krekar convictions upheld (6) - English Service|url=https://www.ansa.it/english/newswire/english_service/2020/07/10/mullah-krekar-convictions-upheld-6_b768cb09-f083-4e08-9305-444d45afdfcf.html|access-date=2020-08-04|website=ANSA.it|language=en|archive-date=2020-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713093708/https://www.ansa.it/english/newswire/english_service/2020/07/10/mullah-krekar-convictions-upheld-6_b768cb09-f083-4e08-9305-444d45afdfcf.html|url-status=live}}

=Extradition to Italy=

On 26 March 2020, it was announced that Mullah Krekar had been extradited from Norway to Italy, where he will be sentenced to jail for leading a jihadist network.{{cite news |title=Norway extradites Kurdish Islamist preacher to Italy |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/260320201 |accessdate=26 March 2020 |work=www.rudaw.net |agency=Rudaw Media Network |archive-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326163748/https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/260320201 |url-status=live }} His lawyer Brynjar Meling was deeply upset about this turn of events, citing his client's poor health (which include both diabetes and high blood pressure), the coronavirus pandemic in Italy and the subpar condition of the Rebibbia prison, which had recently seen both a mutiny and several deaths owing to the COVID-19 virus.{{cite news |last1=Zondag |first1=M. H. W. |last2=Døvik |first2=O. |last3=Ingebrethsen |first3=C. |title=Krekars forsvarer: «Hit sendte Norge i dag en 63-åring med diabetes og høyt blodtrykk" |url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/i-dette-fengselet-skal-krekar-sitte-na_-rammet-av-korona-opptoyer-1.14962423 |accessdate=28 March 2020 |work=NRK Nyheter |agency=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 March 2020 |language=nb-NO |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327212101/https://www.nrk.no/norge/i-dette-fengselet-skal-krekar-sitte-na_-rammet-av-korona-opptoyer-1.14962423 |url-status=live }} He [was previously] held in the Badu 'e Carros prison in Nuoro, Sardinia.{{cite web |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/f2a7e985-f00c-4165-8912-2f98895696a5 |title=Italian court upholds 12-year sentence for Kurdish Islamist cleric |first=Wladimir |last=van Wilgenburg |date=2020-07-11 |website=www.kurdistan24.net |access-date=2020-07-20 |archive-date=2020-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713054637/https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/f2a7e985-f00c-4165-8912-2f98895696a5 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://norwaytoday.info/news/mulla-krekar-transferred-to-prison-in-sardinia/ |title=Mulla Krekar transferred to prison in Sardinia |first=Victoria |last=Garza |date=1 July 2020 |website=norwaytoday.info |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804165906/https://norwaytoday.info/news/mulla-krekar-transferred-to-prison-in-sardinia/ |url-status=live }}

Krekar's views

In November 2009, controversy erupted when Krekar in an interview with the Arab television channel al-Hiwar said that for there is no legitimate Islamic state with the exception of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. He claimed that if a caliphate were to be established, Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, or Gulbuddin Hekmatyar should be leader."[http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=592482 Krekar vil ha islamsk stat ledet av Osama bin Laden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127050143/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=592482 |date=2009-11-27 }}" As a result, the Progress Party continued their call for the imprisonment of Krekar,"[http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=588295 Siv Jensen om Krekar-intervju: - Hårreisende uttalelser] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128054305/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=588295 |date=2009-11-28 }}", VG and the Labour Party stated for the first time they would form a new task force which would examine if people officially labeled as "danger to national security" could be imprisoned."[http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=590362 Krekar kan bli satt bak lås og slå til våren] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129080314/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=590362 |date=2009-11-29 }}", VG Azzam Tamimi, who interviewed Mullah Krekar, also said that he felt Mullah Krekar was mistreated by secular Kurds in Norway."[http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=588393 Krekar-intervjuer: - Han har blitt behandlet dårlig] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128055024/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=588393 |date=2009-11-28 }}", VG

Mullah Krekar is significantly nationalist. He said he would support Kurdish independence "wholeheartedly" even though he has lost faith in Kurdish parties, but he "has no quarrel with any political party". He also stated that many of his relatives and friends are members of the KDP and the PUK, and that he had no issues with either party. Hoshyar Zebari announced that the Kurdistan Regional Government had no issues with Mullah Krekar, and did not charge him.{{cite web |url=http://rudaw.net/english/interview/29092016 |title=Time has come to break from Iraq, says radical Kurdish cleric Mulla Krekar |date=29 September 2016 |author=Mahmud Yasin Kurdi |website=rudaw.net |access-date=28 November 2016 |archive-date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129024757/http://rudaw.net/english/interview/29092016 |url-status=live }} In 2001, Mullah Krekar seized control of the unstable Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan and declared independence. The emirate was treated as a Kurdish state under Islamic law, rather than an Islamic state composed of Kurds. Mullah Krekar claimed that the Muslim community criticized Kurds for being secular, yet also failed to support Kurds who fought from a religious standpoint, such as Sheikh Said, Mahmud Barzinji, and himself. When the Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan was dissolved, the majority of Ansar al-Islam fled to Iran and lived among local Kurds. Mullah Krekar refused to work with Iraqi jihadists, as many of them were former Ba'athist officers. He called on Ansar al-Islam to be lenient on captured PUK soldiers, claiming that they were still Kurds and had nothing to do with the PUK leaders. He questioned PUK commitment to Kurdish nationalism, claiming that no Kurdish nationalist would invite the United States to defeat the only independent Kurdish state. Mullah Krekar also claimed that if the Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan lived longer, an Ansar al-Islam operation against Turkey would have been inevitable.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Kurdish group incorporated into Syrian Ministry of Defense |url=https://zagrosmedia.com/kurdish-group-incorporated-into-syrian-ministry-of-defense/ |website=Zagros Media}}

In May 2019, due to increased tensions between the United States and Iran, Krekar stated in a war between the two he would support Iran, saying it was like supporting Hezbollah in a war between them and Israel, despite being Shiite and actively fighting Sunni groups in Iraq and Syria.{{cite web|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/a6669a10-164d-40f0-b056-cf88d80996f0|title=Kurdish Islamist cleric says he would support Iran if war breaks out with US|website=Kurdistan24|access-date=2019-06-19|archive-date=2019-07-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722213352/https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/a6669a10-164d-40f0-b056-cf88d80996f0|url-status=live}}

In popular culture

In November 2007, Mullah Krekar was the subject of a half-hour investigative report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC-TV) international affairs program Foreign Correspondent. The report, titled "Norwegian Jihad", was also the centrepiece of a one-hour special report on Norwegian State Television. "Norwegian Jihad" was also broadcast throughout the Asia Pacific region on ABC-TV's satellite service "Australia Network".{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/s2085599.htm|title=Norwegian Jihad|publisher=ABC|access-date=2009-07-22|archive-date=2009-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916021327/http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/s2085599.htm|url-status=live}}

In July 2009, Mullah Krekar was one of the subjects of the NBC's pilot episode of the show The Wanted,{{cite web|url=http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/the_wanted/overview|title=DIRECTV Satellite TV - Official Site - 1-800-490-4388|access-date=2009-07-21|archive-date=2009-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727033203/http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/the_wanted/overview|url-status=live}} describing him as "responsible for killing hundreds of westerners".{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540|title=NBCNews.com Video Player|website=NBC News|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-date=2019-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807224404/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540|url-status=dead}}

In early 2012, the Netflix series Lillyhammer featured a scene in which a Norwegian police officer gets into an argument with an Arab immigrant over whether the show 24 is unfair to Arabs, and when his partner intercedes, he complains that the immigrant "is giving me the whole Mullah Krekar routine over here".

Bibliography

{{in lang|no}} (2003{{cite web|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/a/63424899|title=- Krekar vil framstå som julenissen|first=Hilda|last=Nyfløt|date=November 17, 2011|website=Dagbladet.no|access-date=January 3, 2020|archive-date=December 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217203521/https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/krekar-vil-framsta-som-julenissen/63424899|url-status=live}}). Med egne ord ("In My Own Words"). Autobiography. Oslo: Aschehoug. 246 pp. {{ISBN|82-03-22968-9}}. Translated from Arabic.

Notes

References

{{reflist|2|refs=

Associated Press Worldstream, 28 October 2005, "Norway's new government says expulsion order for Ansar al-Islam founder stands"

UPI, September 13, 2005, "UPI Intelligence Watch"

}}

External links

[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/03/AR2006120301088.html "The CIA and The Militant Who Eluded It in Norway"] – By Craig Whitlock (journalist), The Washington Post, December 4, 2006.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20041211131431/http://www.insightnewstv.com/d80/ mullah Krekar Interview] (WMV) – By Jonathan Miller (reporter), Ivan O'Mahoney (producer), Insight News Television
[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article705480.ece "Krekar contradicts his own defense"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051127075550/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article705480.ece |date=27 November 2005 }} – By Inger Anne Olsen, Aftenposten, 9 January 2004
[http://www.pwhce.org/krekar.html mullah Krekar: Leader of Kurdish Ansar al-Islam] – By Trevor Stanley, in Perspectives on World History and Current Events (PWHCE), 2005
[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1250670.ece "Krekar can be expelled soon"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614084541/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1250670.ece |date=14 June 2006 }} – Aftenposten/NTB, 16 March 2006
[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1109447.ece "Krekar threatens Norway"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012102801/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1109447.ece |date=12 October 2007 }} – Aftenposten, 06 Sep 2005
[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2038440.ece "mullah Krekar linked to pro al-Qaida sites"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009180401/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2038440.ece |date=9 October 2007 }} – Aftenposten, 09 Oct 2007