Court hears arguments for continued detention of Arfan Bhatti in Oslo

On Friday, a court hearing for Arfan Bhatti was conducted behind closed doors at the Oslo District Court. This arrangement means that the media and other observers were required to leave the room during the proceedings. The prosecution requested that Bhatti be detained for an additional four weeks on charges of complicity in terrorism following the mass shooting in Oslo on June 25, 2022.

According to his defense attorney, Bhatti was prepared to testify in court. However, he reacted strongly to the decision to close the hearing, feeling that it excluded the public from his statement. His lawyer, Inger Zadig, expressed that Bhatti saw no point in explaining his side when the public was denied access to his testimony. She criticized the Norwegian authorities’ handling of the case, indicating that the media is barred from fulfilling its role as a watchdog.

The court granted the request for continued detention, imposing a ban on letters and visits, although Bhatti will still be able to see his children. Inger Zadig argued against the detention, claiming it is disproportionate, highlighting the “inhuman conditions” Bhatti faced while imprisoned in Pakistan, along with a weak evidential basis.

The prosecution raised concerns that Bhatti could evade further investigation or destroy evidence if released. Despite previous claims of having fled to Pakistan, his lawyer contended that his trip was a planned vacation known to Norwegian authorities, denying any risk of him absconding.

Regarding the investigation’s progress, police prosecutor Ingvild Myrold refrained from detailing future steps but expressed optimism that it would conclude by the end of November. The defense maintains that there is no evidence to destroy, while the court disagreed, citing significant risks regarding witness influence in Pakistan.