Kurdish religious leader to challenge Norway in European Court

Aug 5, 2008, 10:49 GMT

Oslo - A Kurdish religious leader is to challenge in the European Court of Human Rights a decision by Norwegian authorities to revoke his refugee status over his association with a terrorist- linked group, reports said Tuesday.

In November 2007, Norway's Supreme Court ordered Mullah Krekar's deportation to Iraq for national security reasons after he was found to have links with the Islamic Ansar al-Islam organization, the reports said.

Krekar was Tuesday quoted in Oslo daily Verdens Gang as saying he wants the Strasbourg-based court to assess if he had been subjected to inhumane treatment or not.

He said felt he was in 'internal exile' and has been denied the opportunity to work, study or be part of society.

'I have no rights, no work permit and no right to medical help,' he said.

His lawyer Brynjar Meling said Krekar had no passport or freedom of movement.

He also noted that Krekar may risk the death penalty or torture if deported to Iraq.

Krekar was granted asylum in Norway in 1991, but in February 2003 was ordered to leave for violating his refugee terms and his alleged links to Ansar al-Islam.

The US considers Ansar al-Islam to be an ally of the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

The initial deportation order was not been carried out due to the security situation in Iraq.

It was not yet clear Tuesday whether the European Court of Human Rights would consider Krekar's case.