They’ve grown up now and have given up all thought of that jihad business. Haven’t they? Well, it would be “Islamophobic” to inquire too deeply…
“Pair convicted of terror offences handed community orders after ‘powerful mitigation,'” by Nicole Wootton-Cane, Manchester Evening News, December 27, 2022:
Two men who ‘encouraged terrorism’ through posts on Instagram while they were teenagers have walked free from court following what a Judge called ‘powerful mitigation’.
Luqmaan Ahmed and Kashif Riaz published posts including ‘distressing’ images of child war victims in Syria on an account called ‘thefightersofthetruth’ and ‘supporterofmujahideen’ in 2018, and sent ‘propaganda’ videos made by ‘armed militia’ opposing the Assad regime between each other and to two other individuals. The court heard how the men, who were 16 and in Year 10 at the time, had become interested in the war in Syria following the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.
The pair walked free after Judge Field KC handed them community orders on December 2 at Manchester Crown Court. The court heard how they had an ‘adolescent fantasy’ of helping solve problems in Syria, and had ‘no understanding’ of the influence of their posts on others.
Prosecuting, Mr Alex du Sautoy said the teens had posted statements on an Instagram account between that were ‘likely to be understood’ as ‘direct or indirect encouragement to the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism’ and of actions that ‘endangered life’. He also outlined how the pair also sent videos to each other and another friend via Whatsapp that were described by prosecutors as ‘terrorist publication’.
He said there was ‘no question’ of both defendant’s young age at the time of the offences, but argued they had both intended to travel to Syria, and that ‘that intention was in their mind when posting on Instagram’.
They were both arrested on March 17, 2018, but were sentenced on Friday (December 2) following guilty verdicts, in what Judge Field called a ‘remarkable’ delay in proceedings. Judge Field said he had seen the pair ‘grow up’, and that they were ‘not the same boys’ who had initially come before his court.
Defending, Ms Janine Brimelow said Ahmed had an ‘adolescent fantasy’ of being a ‘hero’ who could help ‘sort out’ the problems in Syria. She said his interest in the issue had started after the Manchester Arena terror attack in May 2017, and he had posted and shared the content, including videos of ‘armed militia’ Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), over a period of three weeks in order to ‘process’ and ‘understand’ it. The court heard how Ahmed believed HTS were the ‘good guys’ because they were fighting ISIS.
“These posts were seeing the war through a child’s eyes,” Ms Brimelow said. She told the court there had been ‘no issues’ since the offence nearly five years ago – Ahmed had started working at a charity, and now wishes to return to his education, which he was forced to cut short due to the trial….
Sentencing, Judge Field said the pair should have been dealt with by the youth court ‘many years ago’, and recognised the offence had been hanging over them for ‘a quarter of your lifetimes’.
He said it was ‘vanishingly unlikely’ that the pair would have ever travelled to Syria, and that a homemade propaganda video they produced was ‘pitiful’. “If these offences were not so serious, I would say laughable,” he added.
“It probably can never be said that there is no risk here, but I am satisfied that there is not a significant risk of serious harm in either of your cases.”
Both Ahmed and Riaz were handed a community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Michael Copeland says
English judges are qualified in English law. They receive no training in Islamic law. They are, however, exposed to deception by Islamic advisors using Islam’s authorised lying to kuffar.
https://gatesofvienna.net/2019/06/the-lamentable-shortcomings-of-some-english-judges-and-senior-lawyers/
Fitna says
Muslims are masters of deceit and they know what excuses us stupid non-Muslims will accept. So it’s no wonder this uninformed judge let them off. Maybe he was hoping they’d change their ways if he was nice to them. Ofc they’ll just go on to do it again.
Now I certainly don’t believe we should be spreading terrorism to places like Syria, but if they wanted to go, just let them and never allow them to come back in. As I recall Syrians are Muslims too, so if they want to attack one another let them. The less Muslims in the world the better.
Though as responsible citizens they should be our problem and it’s time western nations accept that jihadists are waging war and should be tried as war criminals and put execution on the table.
Valhella says
Absolutely Fitna! When will the obvious become apparent to those in power?… Or is corruption absolute?
ElderlyZionist says
“Defending, Ms Janine Brimelow said Ahmed had an ‘adolescent fantasy’ of being a ‘hero’ who could help ‘sort out’ the problems in Syria. She said his interest in the issue had started after the Manchester Arena terror attack in May 2017…”
So…he was inspired to heroic emulation by a mass murder bombing attack on teenage girls. Seems harmless enough.
gravenimage says
Spot on analysis, Elderly Zionist.
tim gallagher says
Well said, ElderlyZionist. Yeah, that’s some concept to have of what a “hero” is. What a foul mind a person would have to possess to think in such an evil way.
gravenimage says
UK: Judge says teen jihadis’ plans were ‘adolescent fantasy,’ gives them no jail time, just community service
………………………………………
Suicidal madness. It is not as though this pair were just playing a game like Grand Theft Auto.
Deodata says
I’m afraid to say in the UK this happens far too often, the judges are too soft on everything, our judicial system is not fit for purpose. So the intelligent agency is active trying to stop terrorism by tracking extremists, how much time and money was spent bringing these extremist to court, knowing that they have a good case. Then a judge turns round and completely dismisses the case, what does this say to the intelligent agencies? Now you will realise the battle that patriots who are attacked from all sides trying to save our country
Scotsman48 says
Meanwhile muslims around the World laugh their hairy arses off at the weakness and stupidity of the infidel.
islam teaches revenge.
We teach forgiveness.
This is the real clash of civilizations.