Emirates put Norwegian Islamic group on terror list
The UAE government has listed the names of dozens of groups it considers terror organizations, including one in Norway. But terrorism experts scoffed at the move.
Around 80 extremist groups were listed by the UAE, with Islamic organizations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark featured alongside the likes of the Islamic State (Isis) and al-Qaeda.
The list is part of the Middle Eastern country's clampdown on terrorist activities, in line with the anti-terror law issued by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in August of this year. Major terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda, Isis and the Muslim Brotherhood, are mentioned, as well as smaller regional and international groups.
The Islamic Association of Norway is one of the groups on the list.
On Monday, Nordic terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp told The Local the list was a "game changer", because it "puts terror groups recognized by the EU and the UN alongside a second category of Muslim groups that are certainly not terrorist organizations". He said that the UAE had singled out Islamic associations in Scandinavia with links to the Muslim Brotherhood (or al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun in Arabic), one of the world's oldest and largest Islamist organizations. The group was recently in power in Egypt under former President Mohammed Morsi, but was ousted following violent protests in 2013. The UAE imposes harsh penalties for anyone who is connected with a terror group on the list.
“Whoever seeks or communicates with a foreign state, terrorist organisation or with anyone who works for their interests, to commit any terrorist act, shall be punished with imprisonment for life while the death penalty will be imposed if the terrorist act has been carried out,” Gulf News reported the law states.
The Islamic Association of Sweden has repeatedly denied that it is part of the Muslim Brotherhood, stating that it takes "inspiration" but not orders from the group, reported The Local Sweden.
Comments
See Also
Around 80 extremist groups were listed by the UAE, with Islamic organizations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark featured alongside the likes of the Islamic State (Isis) and al-Qaeda.
Major terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda, Isis and the Muslim Brotherhood, are mentioned, as well as smaller regional and international groups.
The Islamic Association of Norway is one of the groups on the list.
The UAE imposes harsh penalties for anyone who is connected with a terror group on the list.
“Whoever seeks or communicates with a foreign state, terrorist organisation or with anyone who works for their interests, to commit any terrorist act, shall be punished with imprisonment for life while the death penalty will be imposed if the terrorist act has been carried out,” Gulf News reported the law states.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.