Dangerous Islamist Preacher Acquitted, Sues Norway for Ruined Reputation

Norway's infamous Islamist fundamentalist preacher Najmuddin Ahmad Faraj, also known as Mullah Krekar, has demanded compensation of 200,000 kroner (roughly 25,000 USD) from the state of Norway following the acquittal of charges of death threats he made last year and for the nine months he spent in prison.

Back in March, Mullah Krekar warned of his plans to sue the Norwegian state after being held in prison for nine months. The controversial preacher is now seeking 200,000 in compensation for his tarnished reputation, Norwegian national broadcaster NRK reports.

Krekar was released in March as the Court of Appeals canceled the previous verdict by Oslo District Court decision, in which Krekar was sentenced to one and a half years in prison for threatening the life of Halmat Goran, a fellow Kurd who had notoriously burned a copy of the Quran.

According to the Court of Appeals, the statements Krekar had made were deemed insufficient as proof of a direct threat towards Goran. However, Krekar was found liable to civil reparations and was ordered to pay 40,000 kroner (roughly 5,000 dollars) to Goran in damages.

In an interview with NRK, which led to the threat charges, Krekar stated that "whoever insults Islam must know that he or she will die. They must understand that it is a life or death conflict,"

"The responsibility to execute the punishment belongs to the Muslim community, whether he is in Norway or whether he is with Barack Obama," Krekar also told NRK, claiming that Goran had to "fear Somalis, Indonesians, Africans, Chechens and all other Muslims."

In the same interview, the Islamist also praised the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks in Paris.

The 59-year Krekar is an Iraqi-born Kurd who has been living in Norway since 1991, where he also established the Salafist jihadi group Ansar al-Islam in 1994. Since 2006, Mullah Krekar has been on the United Nations' terror list.

In 2012, he was sentenced to five years in prison in Norway for threatening to kill the conservative politician Erna Solberg, who is now Norway's prime minister. Later, the Court of Appeals reduced his sentence to 34 months.

Besides, Mullah Krekar's extradition has been repeatedly demanded by Iraq for trial, which has been denied by Norway, as the country's legislature prohibit expulsion of individuals without a guarantee against the death penalty or torture.

Krekar has also been accused of having helped establish a terrorist group in Germany. In March 2014, he was questioned in Oslo by German police. Ten people were charged in the case.

At present, Krekar faces extradition to Italy on charges of masterminding a number of terrorist plots.