20-year-old jailed for six years over attempt to join Islamic State
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Version 0 of 1. A young British Muslim has been jailed for six years for making determined efforts to join Islamic State in Syria to fulfil his ambition of becoming a martyr. Zakariya Ashiq, 20, left the UK on 6 November 2014 on a bus from Victoria station in London and made his way via Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Bulgaria to Jordan, his Old Bailey trial heard. But when he failed to cross the border to reach his intended destination of Syria, he flew back to Heathrow where he was arrested on 20 November. In his defence, Ashiq, of Coventry, admitted trying to get to Syria but claimed he had to leave the UK because he was being “pestered” by MI5 and “tortured” by unidentified shadowy figures. But the jury at the Old Bailey took less than two hours to find him guilty on two counts of preparing acts of terrorism on or before 6 November. In mitigation his lawyer, Paul Hynes QC, described Ashiq as a Walter Mitty character whose evidence about being waterboarded displayed elements of a “fantastical tale”. But judge Charles Wide QC said even thought the defendant was just 19 at the time, he knew full well what Isis was all about and had been intent on fighting for them. Wide said: “He cannot have disapproved. He went to fight for them. He is extremely skilful at downplaying his true commitment. He is a fanatic, that’s what he is.” Handing him a further four years on extended licence, the judge said to Ashiq: “You are very, very determined and your attitudes are very deeply ingrained so I am satisfied a further period of licence is required for the purpose of protecting the public from serious harm by you.” |