Raids by award-winning filmmaker: The court will decide whether PST see seized … – Dagbladet.no

(Dagbladet): They seized video files to filmmaker Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen is not undergone, said Police Security Service (PST). Notes will be sent to the court, which will decide whether PST can see contents.

PST confirms in a press statement that the seizure of the material occurred following the arrest of a Norwegian 18-year-old who is charged with attempting to travel to Syria.

PST believes that after his arrest emerged concrete information about that key evidence was situated in Rolfsen.

– Supplemental The character made it a high degree of probability that this was correct. Further, there were a significant element of urgency to prevent important evidence was forfeited. By waiting for the court’s decision stood there for us as likely that the evidence in the meantime would be forfeited, writes PST.

Got examination permit

PST then contacted the National Authority (NAST), as they believed it was an essential element hurry. NAST agreed assessment, and it was decided to rummage writes PST.

PST turned up at his home west of Oslo last night. With him they had orders from the public prosecutor to seize material from the documentary he makes about Ubaydullah Hussain and Islamist groups in Norway.

According to Dagbladet information through increased PST residence and car to the award winning 43-year-old filmmaker. He also explained that he copied the material to PST. According PST was not seized anything other than video files.

– On site was film producer approached and presented search warrants decision. He then handed over the requested material. It was therefore not carried out a search of the premises, nor taken other seizure. PST sealed seizure and has clarified this for submission to the court that determines whether PST can see the contents, they write in the press message.

Critical seizures

Kjersti Løken Stavrum, Secretary General of the Norwegian Press Association, is among them who has been critical of the PST procedure. Stavrum require PST refrains from reviewing the footage and look raid as a serious assault on freedom of the press and source protection in Norway.

– This is reminiscent of country we possibly will not compare ourselves with. It has a hugely damaging signal effect saying that you no longer can tell something in confidence to the media in Norway, she says to Dagbladet.

Also Stavrum predecessor Per Edgar Bokkvold, Freedom of Expression director Knut Olav Åmås and human rights researcher Anine Kierulf react.

– fittings, non-published material entails a clear infringement of freedom of expression, says Kierulf Dagbladet.