The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had secret talks with the Yemen group – did not address the Martine case

Farouk Abdulhak is the only suspect in the murder and is reportedly staying in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. In connection with the extradition of a murder suspect, it emerged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had spoken to the Houthis.

When Martine’s father approached the ministry to find out what was said, a deputy director replied that “it does not mean that the Martine case was brought up in the talks,” reports NRK.

– To my horror, I received confirmation that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had met them, but did not address the Martine case, Odd Petter Magnussen tells the channel.

For years, he has urged the Norwegian authorities to establish a dialogue with the militia, with the aim of obtaining the extradition of Abdulhak, accused of murder, to Great Britain. According to Magnussen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told him that they have not been able to deal with a “militia like this”.

The ministry does not answer what is the reason why the murder case has not been brought up in the talks. When asked by NRK whether they now want to raise the matter with their contacts in the Houthi movement, communications manager Tuva Bogsnes writes the following in an email:

“Norwegian foreign ministers have repeatedly raised the matter with Yemeni foreign ministers, but Norway has no independent role or responsibility in the issue of extradition of a Yemeni citizen from Yemen to the UK. If the UK thinks it would be useful, we would be happy to take this up with the Houthi movement.”