The report, submitted to Trøndelag police district, references provisions on hate speech, incitement to criminal acts, and incitement to genocide. The complainant, On Elpeleg, who lost half his family during World War II, argues that the professor's statement promotes hatred, persecution, or contempt against Jews as a group on the basis of religion and ethnic origin. Elpeleg claims the statement may be seen as a justification of attempted genocide, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment, while glorification of terror carries a maximum sentence of three years.
The October 7 attack is known as an attempted genocide and the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, with approximately 1,300 civilians killed, several hundred taken hostage, and many tortured and raped. Legal expert and law professor Anine Kierulf stated that glorification of past violence is not punishable under current Norwegian law. The professor, identified as Tariq Hussein or Bassam Hussein, has not commented on the police report itself but told VG that he believes he has not broken the law.
Calling the massacre of Jewish civilians 'the most beautiful thing' of our century is a gross devaluation of the victims' human dignity and a glorification of terror and attempted genocide.
NTNU has condemned the October 7 terror, but the university's board has previously stated that freedom of expression is strongly protected in Norway. The lecture was arranged at a venue outside the university campus. The statement was made during a lecture in Trondheim on April 21, organized by the Socialist Forum.
During the lecture, Hussein also said October 7 revealed 'there is no such thing as Israeli superiority', described Israel as a 'huge dragon spitting fire in all directions, that got a needle in its backside', and stated his belief that Israel wishes to 'take over the Western empire' and is a continuation of European colonialism. Eytan Halon, Chargé d'affaires at the Israeli embassy in Oslo, called Hussein's remarks a 'shocking glorification of terror' and said 'This Hamas supporter cannot continue teaching Norway's students at NTNU'. Hussein, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, was named one of Norway's top 10 outstanding lecturers in 2016 and an Excellent Teaching Practitioner at NTNU in 2023.
I am deeply concerned that such attitudes are spreading.
In 2025, the Board of the Student Society in Trondheim awarded him their honorary membership for his efforts to raise awareness about the 'ongoing genocide in Gaza'. The exact date of the police report submission remains unclear, with sources citing May 5. The professor's correct full name is also uncertain, as he is referred to as both Tariq Hussein and Bassam Hussein.
It is not known whether the police district has opened a formal investigation or what its current status is.
I am deeply concerned that Norway has not clearly recognized Hamas as a genocidal terrorist organization.
A professor is going around glorifying Hamas and its genocidal acts.
I have not done anything that breaks Norwegian law, and if what I said was not to someone's liking or was exaggerated or wrong, that is a different matter.
The October 7, 2023 terror attack in Israel is 'the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century'.
October 7 revealed 'there is no such thing as Israeli superiority'.
Israel is a 'huge dragon spitting fire in all directions, that got a needle in its backside'.
Israel wishes to 'take over the Western empire' and is a continuation of European colonialism.
This is a shocking glorification of terror. This Hamas supporter cannot continue teaching Norway's students at NTNU.