Norway terrorism convict Arfan Bhatti has been sentenced to 30 years of preventive detention, a rarely used and indefinite security measure, for his role in the deadly 2022 Oslo shooting and for plotting further attacks with the Islamic State. The unanimous verdict from Oslo District Court marks a definitive legal outcome for a man once dubbed 'Norway's most acquitted man' by his own defense team.
Judge Kim Heger spent Friday reading the 59-page verdict, stating the court found it proven beyond reasonable doubt that Bhatti was aware Zaniar Matapour would carry out the shooting that killed two and injured 21 outside a gay bar. 'The court finds it proven that Bhatti knew Matapour would carry out the shooting, and that Bhatti in that connection helped him with the planning and/or execution, or in other ways strengthened Matapour's terrorist intent through psychological complicity,' Heger read from the judgment. Bhatti, wearing a light blue shirt and blue sweater, looked down at the table before him as the verdict was delivered, having maintained his innocence throughout.
The Path to Preventive Detention
Preventive detention, known as 'forvaring,' is Norway's most severe penalty, reserved for cases where ordinary prison sentences are deemed insufficient to protect society. It is imposed when an individual has committed a serious crime violating others' life, health, or freedom, and when there is an imminent danger they will commit new such crimes. The sentence is indefinite, with an initial minimum term set—in Bhatti's case, 30 years—before any release can be considered. Even after the minimum term, detention can be extended in five-year increments indefinitely if a court finds the recurrence risk remains.
The prosecution's request for this measure was fully adopted by the court. According to the correctional services, serving a preventive detention order is meant to be more individually tailored than a standard prison term, with inmates initially housed in special high-security units or prisons alongside others given similar sentences. The process is designed to progress through stages from high to low security, potentially via probation, before any full release.
Digital Evidence and Co-Conspirators
A central pillar of the case was evidence derived from encrypted messaging. Bhatti admitted during the trial for the first time to being the Telegram user 'Shaheen.' In that role, he communicated extensively with another user he believed was an IS operative. That individual was, in reality, an agent with the Norwegian Intelligence Service. The court found it proven beyond reasonable doubt that 'Shaheen' was Bhatti.
The prosecution also argued, and the court agreed, that another user named 'Me,' who communicated with the same intelligence agent, was Aisha Kausar. Kausar is currently in Syria. These message exchanges formed a key part of the evidence detailing plots for additional terrorist attacks inside Norway. Bhatti's defense had argued these messages constituted illegal evidence, but the court rejected that claim and incorporated them into its verdict.
A Legal History Preceding the Attack
The label 'Norway's most acquitted man' stemmed from Bhatti's complex history with the justice system prior to this conviction. He had faced serious charges in the past, including a high-profile case related to the 2006 murder of a teenage girl, for which he was ultimately acquitted. This history made his conviction on terrorism charges a significant moment for Norwegian authorities, who have long viewed him as a dangerous extremist influence.
The verdict brings a measure of closure to one thread of the investigation into the June 25, 2022, attack. The shooter, Zaniar Matapour, was found guilty of terrorism and murder last year and was also sentenced to preventive detention with a 30-year minimum term. The court has now firmly placed Bhatti as a co-conspirator in that act of violence, which targeted the LGBTQ community on the weekend of Oslo Pride.
The Implications of the Sentence
Bhatti's sentencing underscores the Norwegian judiciary's application of its strictest legal tools for national security cases. The use of preventive detention for terrorism offenses signals the court's assessment of an unacceptably high risk of re-offending. The 30-year minimum term is among the longest ever set for this type of sentence, reflecting the severity of the crimes, which encompass both completed and planned terrorist acts.
The role of intelligence service evidence in a criminal court also sets a notable precedent. The agent's infiltration of the communication channel provided what the court deemed conclusive proof of Bhatti's intent and actions, navigating the legal challenges posed by his defense regarding the evidence's admissibility. This interplay between intelligence operations and criminal prosecution is likely to be studied for future cases involving extremist networks operating online.
For the victims of the 2022 attack and the broader public, the verdict represents a conclusive legal finding on Bhatti's culpability. The court systematically rejected the defense's arguments, unifying around a narrative laid out by the prosecution that placed Bhatti as a key ideological and logistical supporter of Matapour's violence. With Bhatti and Matapour both now sentenced to indefinite detention, the focus of the judicial process related to the attack itself is complete.
The sentence now enters a mandatory appeal process to the Court of Appeal, as is standard for all preventive detention rulings in Norway. This means the final legal word on Bhatti's fate is still to come, though the unanimous and comprehensive nature of the district court's verdict presents a high bar for his defense to overcome. The case confirms the persistent threat of extremist violence within Norway's borders and the judicial system's current framework for responding to it.