Bookseller Reports Norway for Human Rights

Bookseller in Kabul, Shah Muhammad.Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / SCANPIX

Bookseller Shah Muhammad Rais (62) has reported Norway to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg because his lawsuit against author Seierstad in Norway did not reach court.

Norwegian courts require 300,000 million kr in a security deposit before the case comes up. Rais does not have this money

“I never got the opportunity to take my case to court. The requirement for a security deposit stops me,” says Shah Muhammad to Rais Nettavisen.

The key issue is Åsne Seierstad’s book ‘The Bookseller of Kabul’ from 2002, which was written after Seierstad had stayed with the bookseller’s family.

“To me, it is important to emphasize that the history of my family is not as it appears in the book,” says Rais.

Lawyer Per Danielsen, representing Rais, pointed out that Norway can not require a security deposit for citizens in EU countries.

“Why should Norway require a security deposit from a person from a country outside the EU?”, asks Danielsen.

A complaint was submitted in February 2014 to the ECHR. The Rais family tried to summon Seierstad, but was stopped due to the demand for a security deposit.

“The ECHR has not issued a decision on this matter. This is good news. Normally, cases are dismissed after one year, so that means that this is under consideration,” says lawyer Danielsen.

Seierstad could not be reached for comment.

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today