The Dutch government has been ordered to pay Mullah Krekar EUR 4,970 in damages after being found guilty of unjustifiably detaining the Iraqi-Kurd in a maximum-security prison for several months last year. Haarlem Court also ordered the government on Tuesday to pay him EUR 540 in legal costs. Krekar’s lawyer had demanded EUR 100,000 in compensation, Dutch associated press ANP reported. Lawyer Victor Koppe demanded the large compensation figure on claims the Netherlands had treated his client "scandalously". Vught prison — where Krekar was detained after his arrest on 12 September last year — is the most secure jail in the Netherlands.
| I'da said that was justified, since he heads an international terrorist organization... |
Krekar was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on heroin charges while en route from Iran to Norway, where he has lived since 1991 as a refugee. His wife, children and brother also moved to Norway under a family reunification programme for refugees. He is suspected of being the leader of Ansar al-Islam (Supporters of Islam), an Iraqi-based, anti-US and militant Islamic group and US officials questioned him over alleged terrorist links while in detention in the Netherlands. Ansar al-Islam is alleged to have links with Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network or ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and is suspected of involvement in the testing of chemical weapons.
| Both of which "allegations" are fairly easily verified. |
US bombing of several of the movement’s strongholds during the Iraq war killed dozens of the movement’s members and US-backed Kurdish forces routed Ansar from its bases. But Krekar denied all charges and his lawyer accused Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner of working to appease the US in silencing Krekar in the lead-up to the war against Iraq. After his arrest, Jordan submitted an extradition request with the Dutch authorities, accusing Krekar of involvement in the international heroin trade. But the Netherlands said Jordan failed to make a strong enough case and refused the request. Krekar’s lawyers said Jordan used the drug allegation as a fabrication for an extradition request made as a favour to the US. Faced with the prospect of having to release him, the Dutch deported Krekar to Oslo, Norway, where he arrived on 13 January. Norwegian authorities did not arrest him. And it was reported last month that Koppe will also submit a compensation claim against Minister Donner for Krekar’s deportation. "I actually think that it is indisputable that the Minister of Justice acted in violation of the law, the Constitution and all sorts of international treaties," the lawyer said.
| I think they should have shot him on the spot, myself. But instead, lots more people will get killed before the guy dies of old age. And somebody else takes over. This is an example of liberalism in top form... |
Koppe also said he would submit the second compensation claim once Haarlem had down the initial ruling, but is not yet known when the new damages hearing will be held. |