Mullah Krekar is a Symptom of European Softness

Recently an American television programme, 'The Wanted', highlighted the case of Mullah Krekar, a known terrorist cleric from Northern Iraq who sought asylum in Norway.

Naturally, the Norwegian authorities will not deport him, lest his human rights be violated - even though the Kurdish authorities have guaranteed he will not face the death penalty if convicted.

The Progress Party have pledged to get rid of him should they gain power in the upcoming Norwegian elections:

How long will the terrorist, mullah Krekar, be able to menace citizens before he is send out of Norway? Although the Kurdish authorities promise that he will not get the death penalty, the Labor Party insists that Krekar will not be deported. The Progress Party believes Krekar should be held in custody until he can be sent out of the country. Norway has been a refuge for terrorists, and even Osama bin Laden would receive protection in Norway. His friends, at least, will stay in Norway. Taliban minister, Abdul Rauf Mohammad, has lived in Norway since 2001. The same men who threw acid in the eyes of the young Afghan girls that wanted to go to school would be allowed to stay in Norway.

Krekar came to Norway as war refugee in 1991. Although he claimed prosecution in Iraq, he has repeatedly visited the country. Kurdish authorities have wished that he’d be extradited on the basis that he has led a terrorist organization called Ansar Al-Islam. The terror organization announced once in a letter that all Christians in Iraq had to get out or they would be killed. Ansar Al-Islam is affiliated with Al Qaida and is allegedly behind the killings of several Kurds civilians.

Norway’s authorities have point blank refused to extradite him, because they fear that Krekar could be sentenced to death. Now, however, TV2 reports that the Kurdish authorities will guarantee the security of the former leader of the Ansar al-Islam. The government guarantees that Krekar will not be subjected to torture or inhuman treatment. The matter should be clear-cut. The Labor Party’s Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Jens Stoltenberg, and Jonas Gahr Støre have previously stated that Krekar cannot be kicked out before we are able guarantee for his safety.

But no, it is not as easy as it appears. Jonas Gahr Støre does not believe in the Iraq’s regional authorities’ promises. He will fight with tooth and nails that Krekar, who is behind a series of murders and has several times in recent years talked enthusiastically about the murder of western citizens, will stay in Norway, because of the security reasons. I agree with Carl I. Hagen: "All actions of this government suggests that Mullah Krekar’s safety and security comes before the security of the kingdom.”

This is not only a disgrace for Norwya’s immigration policy. But it is also a shame to all those currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq for peace. It also dishonors those who work either in aid or human rights organizations in Muslim countries. People like Mullah Krekar endangers all that.

The Progress Party believes the TV2’s documentation is good enough for Mullah Krekar to be extradited from Norway. Norway’s immigration and asylum policy should not apply terrorists or people who support the killing of civilians.

Until Krekar can be put on a plane out of Norway, he should be in custody the same manner others in similar situation are being treated. When the Progress Party takes over the government, we will ensure that all necessary documentation will be prepared and Krekar will sit on an airplane on the way home within 100 days.

You'll notice thought that this is not solely about Mullah Krekar.

Whilst British and European troops are fighting and dying in Afghanistan, allegedly keeping us safe, a former Taliban minister and his family are living safely in Norway, on the Norwegian taxpayer.

How can this be right or just?

Meanwhile, here in Britain, it has been revealed that convicted terrorists are living in bail hostels after their release from prison:

At least 20 men suspected of harbouring al-Qaida sympathies and convicted of terrorism offences have been released from British prisons this year, according to probation staff.

The men had reached the two-thirds point of their sentence and therefore qualified for release back into the community, where the majority are being supervised by probation staff as they reside in hostels.

Many have been placed on curfews or placed under strict licence conditions in a bid to ensure they are kept under close supervision. But the revelation that convicted terrorists are being housed in hostels is likely to trigger a national debate on how best the authorities can deal with what is considered by many experts to be a new type of serious offender.

Most of the men released so far were convicted for offences associated with the possession of terrorist material or literature or aiding others who went on to carry out terrorist attacks both in the UK and abroad. The probation union, Napo, claims that nine men convicted for terrorist offences are being housed in hostels in London, two in the Midlands and another four in Yorkshire.

Probation staff say that, although many of those released may pose a real threat, the normal tools used to assess the risk of reoffending are of limited value because of the motivation which led to their crime.

"It is extremely difficult to work with any individual whose criminal behaviour is politically motivated," said Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of Napo. "The psychology is totally different from the vast majority of persons convicted of criminal offences whose activity is either acquisitive or, in cases of violence, often pathological."

However, with an estimated 160 people convicted of terrorism offences inspired by al-Qaida currently residing in Britain's jails, there is growing pressure on the authorities to give details of how they intend to deal with convicted terrorists.

While most are considered "minor" offenders, several convicted of more serious offences are due to be released soon. Andrew Rowe was given a seven-and-a-half year sentence after being caught with details of how to fire mortar bombs and secret codes to facilitate terror attacks. He is due to appear before the parole board within weeks.

Raids on his home uncovered a handwritten guide to firing battlefield weapons, videos of the 9/11 atrocities and tapes of Osama bin Laden. He had used the names of specific models of mobile phones as code for words and phrases such as "airline crew", "explosives" and "army base". His socks carried traces of TNT and plastic explosives.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said anyone convicted of terrorist offences and sentenced to more than 12 months' imprisonment would be subject to probation supervision on release from prison.

"They have to adhere to a set of strict conditions and are subject to recall to custody if they breach their conditions or their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe to allow them to remain in the community," she said. The Home Office has also pledged to deport any convicted terrorists who are foreign nationals.

We should go further; any terrorist should be stripped of their British citizenship and deported. If our security is worth the blood of our troops, then it should be taken far more seriously.