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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

Norway drops case against professor who called October 7 'most beautiful thing this century'

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Norwegian police dismissed a complaint against a university professor who called the October 7 massacre “the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century.”
  • The case was dropped because the professor's conduct was not considered a criminal offense under Norwegian law.
  • An activist group plans to appeal the decision, stating that it makes Norway unsafe for Jews.

Norwegian police have closed a case against a university professor who made highly controversial remarks about the October 7 massacre. Bassam Hussein, a project management professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), had called the events "the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century" during a lecture in April 2026.

the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century

— Bassam HusseinThe professor's description of the October 7 massacre during a lecture.

Following the comments, the anti-antisemitism activist group StoppNRK filed a complaint with the police. However, police investigator Arild Hansen and prosecutor Sunniva Tronvoll informed StoppNRK that the case has been dismissed. They stated that the reported conduct is not considered a criminal offense in Norway.

We understand that the statement may be perceived that way

— Vikas ThakurThe Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at NTNU, commenting on the perception of Hussein's statement.

The police decision means that while the professor's statements were widely perceived as glorifying terror, they do not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution. NTNU had previously stated that Hussein spoke as an individual citizen with a background from Gaza, not on behalf of the university.

he spoke as an individual citizen with a background from Gaza, not on behalf of the university.

— Vikas ThakurThe Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at NTNU, clarifying the university's position on Hussein's remarks.

StoppNRK has expressed strong disagreement with the ruling, with spokesperson On Elpeleg stating, "This effectively means that the genocidal organization Hamas, in theory and in practice, is de facto accepted in Norway." The group intends to appeal the decision, warning that "It is no longer safe for Jews, or others, in Norway."

the reported conduct is not considered a criminal offense.

— Arild Hansen and Sunniva TronvollNorwegian police explaining their decision to dismiss the complaint.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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