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Five students win terror appeal Five students win terror appeal
(10 minutes later)
The Court of Appeal has quashed the convictions of five young Muslim men jailed over extremist literature.The Court of Appeal has quashed the convictions of five young Muslim men jailed over extremist literature.
Freeing the men, the Lord Chief Justice said their conviction for downloading extremist propaganda was unsafe. Freeing the men the Lord Chief Justice said their conviction for downloading extremist propaganda was unsafe.
An Old Bailey trial convicted the men last year after hearing they had become obsessed with extremist jihadi websites and literature. An Old Bailey jury convicted the men last year after hearing they had become obsessed with extremist jihadi websites and literature.
In a statement the men said they were overjoyed at being freed and their prosecution should never have happened. The men, of Bradford and Ilford, Essex, said they were overjoyed and that their prosecution should never have happened.
Imran Khan, solicitor for one of the five men, said they had been prosecuted for "thought crime".
At their trial, they said they had been uniquely prosecuted for what they had read, rather than anything they had done.At their trial, they said they had been uniquely prosecuted for what they had read, rather than anything they had done.
In one of the first trials of its kind, Irfan Raja, Awaab Iqbal, Aitzaz Zafar, Usman Malik and Akbar Butt were jailed in 2007 for downloading and sharing extremist terrorism-related material. The men all received sentences of between two and three years.In one of the first trials of its kind, Irfan Raja, Awaab Iqbal, Aitzaz Zafar, Usman Malik and Akbar Butt were jailed in 2007 for downloading and sharing extremist terrorism-related material. The men all received sentences of between two and three years.
Clockwise from top left: Aitzaz Zafar, Akbar Mohammed Butt, Usman Malik and Awaab IqbalClockwise from top left: Aitzaz Zafar, Akbar Mohammed Butt, Usman Malik and Awaab Iqbal
During the trial, the jury heard that the four Bradford students were arrested after Mr Raja, then a schoolboy in Ilford, Essex, had run away to join them in Yorkshire.During the trial, the jury heard that the four Bradford students were arrested after Mr Raja, then a schoolboy in Ilford, Essex, had run away to join them in Yorkshire.
The teenager, who had been unhappy at home, left a note for his parents saying he was going to fight abroad after getting to know the others via online chatrooms used by extremist recruiters.The teenager, who had been unhappy at home, left a note for his parents saying he was going to fight abroad after getting to know the others via online chatrooms used by extremist recruiters.
But within days, he realised his mistake and returned home. His parents, shocked by the letter, had already alerted the police. Mr Raja co-operated with detectives, leading to the arrest of all five of the group and the collection of the extremist material.But within days, he realised his mistake and returned home. His parents, shocked by the letter, had already alerted the police. Mr Raja co-operated with detectives, leading to the arrest of all five of the group and the collection of the extremist material.
But in their hearing before the Court of Appeal, the men argued that they should not have been convicted solely on the allegation that they had downloaded and shared literature off the internet.But in their hearing before the Court of Appeal, the men argued that they should not have been convicted solely on the allegation that they had downloaded and shared literature off the internet.
The material included publications popular among extreme Islamist organisations, encouraging Muslims to fight. One of the five had also used a computer to superimpose his own face on a montage of the 9/11 hijackers.The material included publications popular among extreme Islamist organisations, encouraging Muslims to fight. One of the five had also used a computer to superimpose his own face on a montage of the 9/11 hijackers.
READ THE LETTER Mohammed Irfan Raja's letter to his parents which alerted the police [1.1MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE LETTER Mohammed Irfan Raja's letter to his parents which alerted the police [1.1MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
But lawyers for the men said that the law had been designed to catch people holding plans for bombs rather than propaganda.But lawyers for the men said that the law had been designed to catch people holding plans for bombs rather than propaganda.
None of the men possessed information which suggested they were plotting a bomb attack, although there had been talk of heading to Pakistan for paramilitary training.None of the men possessed information which suggested they were plotting a bomb attack, although there had been talk of heading to Pakistan for paramilitary training.
The prosecution, they argued, had relied on a "maverick use" of the law which had never been intended by Parliament, said the appeal lawyers.The prosecution, they argued, had relied on a "maverick use" of the law which had never been intended by Parliament, said the appeal lawyers.
Joel Bennathan QC, for Mr Zafar, told the Court of Appeal that his client had been criminalised over literature.Joel Bennathan QC, for Mr Zafar, told the Court of Appeal that his client had been criminalised over literature.
"The evidence at trial was that [Mr Zafar] made no attempt to conceal his very large collection of pro-jihadi sermons and lectures," said Mr Bennathan in his written arguments to the court."The evidence at trial was that [Mr Zafar] made no attempt to conceal his very large collection of pro-jihadi sermons and lectures," said Mr Bennathan in his written arguments to the court.
"His computer had no password, nor was any significant material encrypted or deleted.""His computer had no password, nor was any significant material encrypted or deleted."