On Thursday morning mullah Krekar began his explanation of why he should not be sent out of the country.
Before beginning his testimony the mullah kissed the Koran and said that Norwegian authorities were justified in their investigation but explained that he felt a victim of religious persecution.
"I perceive this as being due to my faith. Sixty years ago it was the Jews in this situation, 27 years ago it was the Shia Muslims. Today they all have power in their countries," mullah Krekar said.
Norwegian authorities have decided to return mullah Krekar, born Najmuddin Faraj Ahmad, to his native Iraq, on the grounds that he poses a threat to national security and has violated the terms of his residency permit.
Krekar's lawyer Brynjar Meling argues that Norwegian authorities have consistently attempted to construct a false image of the former leader of the militant Kurdish Islamist group Ansar al-Islam.
