Foto: Jamaat-e-Islami

Islamic Cultural Center invited the controversial Pakistani politician to Norway, and the decision to grant him entry arrived only days before his scheduled arrival.

Ahmed arrives at Gardermoen International Airport on Saturday, but Minister of Local Government Erna Solberg waited until Thursday afternoon before she announced that Norway opposes the Schengen decision and grants him permission to visit.

In spite of the delay, the management of Islamic Cultural Center said they never lost faith that Norway would grant Ahmed entry.

«Norway is a democracy, and everybody is allowed to state their opinion,» said Ikhlaq Ahmad, general secretary at Islamic Cultural Center to TV 2 Nettavisen. «Everybody is very happy, and we are very proud to live in Norway. We live in a free society.»

Minutes after the decision was announced, ICC got in contact with its guest and relay the news.

«This is really great,» said the general secretary at ICC to TV 2 Nettavisen. «We thank the Norwegian people and the authorities for this decision. It is a victory for the freedom of speech and for peace. Now Ahmed can visit Norway and talk about peace in the world and start a dialogue.»

Ahmed will give a talk at the mosque at Islamic Cultural Centre on Sunday. He is meeting with the Minister of Local Government on Monday, and he is giving a talk on war and terror for the members of the Muslim student union at the University of Oslo on Tuesday.