Source: The International Herald Tribune
Wire Service: AP
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21717130
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a government order to expel the founder of Ansar al-Islam, a suspected Islamic terror group in Iraq, as a threat to Norwegian national security.
Two lower courts had also upheld a government order to deport Kurdish leader Mullah Krekar, a refugee in Norway since 1991. Even though the Supreme Court ruling was final, conditions in Iraq made it unlikely that he would promptly be returned to his homeland.
"There is clearly enough evidence that Krekar is a threat to national security through his presence in Norway," said Hans Flock, one of the Supreme Court justices.
Krekar, born Najm al-Din Faraj Ahmad, founded the Ansar al-Islam group listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and others. The group is also suspected in suicide bombings of coalition forces in Iraq.
Krekar has said he no longer leads Ansar al-Islam, and denies links to al-Qaida. The United Nations in December 2006 added him to a list of people believed associated with al-Qaida.