A video recently surfaced of an interview with a so-called “moderate” Muslim cleric on a Norwegian TV show. The video has gone viral because it shows an Islamic leader in the West being honest about what Islam teaches when it comes to non-Muslims.
Host: For someone who burns the Koran, the punishment, according to Islam, is death, is that correct?
Mullah Krekar: If you burn the Koran, which is an insult, then the answer is clearly yes.
Host: But the man who has burned the Koran, would it be right that he loses his life even though he lives in Norway?
Mullah Krekar: I know absolutely that he has committed a criminal offense where the punishment is death. The responsibility for carrying out the punishment is on the Ummah, our Muslim brotherhood.
I am telling you what is stated in the law.
I have told you what is in the Koran and in the Hadith.
I have not pointed at one specific person and said “You, we must kill.”
Host: One of those who burned a Koran is afraid because somebody who listens to you might want to kill him, because you have said that is the punishment according to the Koran. Isn’t there the risk that somebody would listen to you?
Mullah Krekar: He must fear… anybody who follows the Koran… will have to fear the crime he has committed and fear that his punishment will be executed…
Anybody who knows of this punishment can kill him. Anybody. We will defend out religion with our own blood. Our only limits are limits of blood, limits made of explosives.
Those who insult our religion must know that one of us will die. Those who insult our religion and our honor must understand – that this is a matter of life and death.
Host: Would you be satisfied if this man gets killed?
Mullah Krekar: Yes. I would send a gift to the person who kills him. Why wouldn’t I be happy about that?
Host: How would you describe those who attacked Charlie Hebdo?
Mullah Krekar: They were defending their honor, they were defending their holiness… Yes, of course {they were heroes}. They were Jihadists.
