Justice Committee Chair Slams Government After Nærbø Deaths: 'Deportation System in Norway is Absurd'

A fatal stabbing on Norway's southwestern coast has ignited a political firestorm, with a prominent parliamentarian accusing the government of endangering citizens by failing to deport a man charged with the crime.

Maren Sømme, 30s, was found dead in her home on Nærbø on Sunday. Her boyfriend, an Afghan national who has lived in Norway for about 20 years, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with murder. He denies the charges.

The suspect had previously been convicted of violence, including against a former partner. He was ordered deported in 2021, but the expulsion was never carried out. This detail has become a focal point for critics of the current government's immigration and deportation policies.

Jon Helgheim, leader of the parliamentary justice committee and a member of the Progress Party, took to Facebook to condemn the government's actions. "The government is endangering innocent Norwegians' lives to protect dangerous criminal immigrants," he wrote. He described Norway's deportation system as "absurd."

The victim's lawyer, Arvid Sjødin, criticized Helgheim's remarks, stating that politicians should ensure they understand the facts before making public accusations. "Politicians shouldn't behave like that. They should know what the case is about, and if not, they should shut up," Sjødin told TV 2.

Government officials have defended their approach, with Sigurd Rafaelsen of the Labour Party stating that the party "gladly debates measures related to crime prevention, violence prevention, and regulations for the deportation of foreigners in a factual manner." He added that these are issues the Labour Party works with daily.

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Regjeringen setter uskyldige nordmenns liv i fare for å beskytte livsfarlige kriminelle innvandrere.