Court: Iraqi cleric Mullah Krekar can be extradited to Italy
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COPENHAGEN — An Iraqi-born cleric can be extradited to Italy, which suspects him of enticing recruits to fight in Iraq and Syria, a Norwegian court said Friday.
Italy says Najmaddin Faraj Ahmad — known as Mullah Krekar — is behind Rawti Shax, a European-wide network aimed at violently overthrowing the government in the Iraqi-Kurdish region and replacing it with a radical caliphate.
Italian authorities, who have taken a lead in the investigation of Krekar and his group, claim he had developed a network of followers who communicated via online chats. Krekar, who holds a Norwegian residence permit, was arrested in November, following an Italian request.
Eurojust, the European Union’s judicial co-operation agency, said 13 people have been arrested in Italy, Britain and Norway in connection with the Krekar case. Italian authorities have called the operation “the most important” in Europe in 20 years.
