Arfan Bhatti posted quotes about gay murder on Facebook – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
As far as NRK knows, terror suspects Zaniar Matapour (42) and Bhatti have been in contact. NRK is also informed that the police are investigating who in the extreme Islamist milieu the 42-year-old has had contact with, and how extensive the contact may have been.
The quote that Bhatti has published on Facebook, says that one should kill everyone who acts as Lot’s people.
– The quote is one of the hadiths that is used as a basis for the death penalty for homosexuality in Islam, Sylo Taraku says to NRK.
He is an advisor in Tankesmien Agenda, and has written a column on the subject in Aftenposten.
In Islamic tradition, Lot is a prophet who warned the people of the prehistoric cities of Sodom and Gomorrah against homosexual acts.
The quote is taken from a so-called hadith. It is a short story about the words and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.
The site was posted as Bhatti’s profile picture on June 14.
Bhatti has also posted a picture of a burning rainbow flag. Another quote is written on the flag. This too is linked to punishment for homosexual acts.
Bhatti has been considered central to the extreme Islamist milieu in Norway.
NRK has tried to contact Bhatti, but has not received a response.
John Christian Elden tells NRK that he does not know if there is a relationship between murder suspect Matapour and Bhatti. Elden has previously been Bhatti’s defender.
He confirms that both men were at a counter-demonstration against SIAN.
– But know from both – separately – that they were on a counter-demonstration against SIAN and their burning of the Koran in the streets, and from the accused that PST then became interested in him.
Police told NRK on Saturday night that they do not want to comment on Bhatti’s Facebook posts.
PST will also not answer questions about the quotes.
– Was part of an extreme environment
– I do not know their contact, writes Matapour’s defender, lawyer John Christian Elden in a text message to NRK.
However, PST has been concerned because the accused is said to have been part of an extreme Islamist milieu in Norway.
– We had a concern about him because he joined a so-called extremely Islamist contact network or network that we have followed, says PST chief Roger Berg to NRK.
Matapour is charged with murder, attempted murder and terror. Two men in their 50s and 60s were killed, and several are injured after the shooting episode that hit the capital last night.
Unknown motive
Matapour’s motive is currently unknown, but the police do not rule out that the action can be linked to the accused’s health.
It is also being investigated whether political violence or hate crime may be a motive.
– We can not conclude whether there is in fact politically motivated violence or hate crime, said Chief of Police Beate Gangås at a press conference Saturday night.
Defender John Christian Elden tells NRK that there is nothing in his explanations so far that indicates a specific motive.
– I would warn against speculating that this is linked to situations in Oslo or something else, the investigation must show, says Elden.