Date set for terror trial lawyer

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A lawyer in a terror trial, who criticised the conviction of his client, will answer a contempt of court charge in April.

Aamer Anwar branded the conviction on terror charges of Mohammed Atif Siddique a "tragedy for justice" after a jury returned its verdict.

Trial judge Lord Carloway accused Mr Anwar of making "disparaging remarks" about him, the jury, and prosecutors.

Mr Anwar could be jailed or fined if found guilty.

Siddique, from Alva in Clackmannanshire, was jailed for eight years in October after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of providing material on bomb-making and weapons training, and threatening to become a suicide bomber.

Afterwards, Mr Anwar delivered a speech on the court steps in which he said the verdict was "a tragedy for justice and for freedom of speech".

He also claimed the computing student's case was heard in an "atmosphere of hostility" and alleged the prosecution was "driven by the State".

'Objective forum'

Three judges decided in December that two days should be set aside to hear the arguments in the case.

A court spokeswoman has confirmed the hearing will take place on 29 and 30 April at the High Court in Edinburgh.

It is understood that Glasgow-based Mr Anwar's case marks the first time in the UK that a solicitor has faced a contempt of court allegation, following the conviction of a client and in relation to comments made outside court.

Lord Carloway has previously said that Mr Anwar's statement seemed to criticise the court as "not being an independent and objective forum for the determination of criminal charges but part of a system of unfairness and repression".

He added that it seemed to be "an attack on the terrorist laws themselves".

The judge said: "A private citizen may choose to make such criticisms or attacks on the courts and the law, but it is another thing for a law agent in a particular case to use his position in that case to do so."

Mr Anwar was last year ranked as the ninth most powerful person in the Scottish legal establishment by members of his profession.