It was NRK that first reported the arrests.
The three are said to be among the pro-Palestine campaigners who on 13 March followed Sylvi Listhaug through the center of Oslo when she was out on an errand and passed a Palestine marker at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Listhaug said that they shouted obscenities at her and filmed her as she walked towards the Storting.
– The most threatening thing I have experienced, she told NRK after the incident.
The three were arrested earlier on Tuesday and released after questioning. The shareholders are charged with complicity in the violation of sections 115 and 266 of the Criminal Code.
“Attack on the activities of the highest state bodies”
Paragraph 115 is entitled “Attacks on the activities of the highest state bodies” and targets those who “through the use of force, threats or in any other unlawful way cause a danger that ….. the Storting ….. or a member of these institutions, are prevented or influenced in their activities.” The penalty is ten years’ imprisonment.
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Paragraph 266 affects anyone who, by “intimidating or troublesome behavior or other reckless behavior, persecutes a person or otherwise violates the peace of another”. The penalty is a fine or imprisonment for up to two years.
– The women who have now been arrested appear to be the three who were closest to Listhaug and the ones who were most active during the incident. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, and we do not wish to make further comments now, says police attorney Thomas Blom via the PST press service.
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Elden: – Overdramatization
– An over-dramatization, calls lawyer John Christian Elden of Advokatfirmaet Elden PST’s use of section 115.
– I understand that it was unpleasant, but it was a legal demonstration and expressions of opinion to the leader of our second largest political party, and without threats. Everything is filmed and handed over PST, says Elden to NTB.
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– So they left the place of the legal demonstration and followed Listhaug?
– Yes, they went behind her from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Storting, but never laid a hand on her. They tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t answer.
– Has cooperated with the police
Elden defends one of the three. The other two accused have two other defense lawyers from Elden Advokatfirma: Anne-Marie Gulichsen and Astri Rønningen Stautland. Deputy attorneys Jonas Berge and Armin Khoshnewiszadeh assisted the activists during questioning on Tuesday.
– A coordinated action against three peace activists appears to be an unnecessary over-dramatization on PST’s part. After the arrest, all have cooperated and explained themselves to the police, something they would have done without a dramatic arrest, says lawyer Elden.
None of the activists plead guilty.
Listhaug: – Scary
– I register that PST today arrested three activists and have full confidence in the work they are doing, says Sylvi Listhaug via her press manager Haakon Sandvik.
The Frp leader tells NRK that she found the incident very unpleasant.
– I have experienced a lot as a politician and lived with bodyguards for several years, and experienced threats. Being followed on the street as I stayed there, I find that terrifying.
