The Muslim Weekly

This author's articles

• Bombs accused ’told absurd lies’

  23 December 2008
  A doctor accused of attempted car bombings in London and Glasgow has told «astonishing lies», jurors have heard. Bilal Abdulla, 29, claimed he did not know Kafeel Ahmed, 28, was planning a suicide attack when a Jeep was driven into a building at Glasgow Airport. Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC told Woolwich Crown Court Mr Abdulla gave a «simply absurd» account of the June 2007 attack on the terminal building.

• Muslims condemn Islamic group

  17 December 2008
  Prominent Muslim organisations in Reading have condemned an Islamic group which has been set up in opposition to the Government’s Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) initiative. Reading Borough Council and Thames Valley Police are implementing a Home Office initiative designed to tackle violent extremism by working with Muslim communities. The Evening Post reported on Friday that Reading PVE Crisis Group has been set up with the support of more than 1,000 Muslims who feel the Government initiative is unfairly targeting the Muslim community.

• Three terror suspects extradited

  17 December 2008
  Three Tunisian men wanted in Italy for alleged terrorist offences have been extradited from Britain, police say. Habib Ignaoua, 47, Mohamed Khemiri, 54, and Ali Chehidi, 35, were arrested in 2007 on a European Arrest Warrant. Italian authorities accuse the trio of recruiting young men to join the jihad in Afghanistan and Iraq.

• ‘War on terror’ moves into cyberspace

  3 November 2008
  Britain’s security agencies are fighting a covert war in cyberspace against extremist internet sites as part of a new anti-terrorist strategy, senior Whitehall officials revealed this week. The scheme is part of measures being introduced at a time when the threat level is described as being «at the severe end of severe», with, officials say, extremist groups determinedly attempting new attacks. As well running its own sites, the Government gives material support to groups that monitor and combat jihadist material on the web in an attempt to prevent indoctrination of young Muslims.

• Muslim revert to face terror trial

  5 August 2008
  A Muslim revert is to go on trial accused of preparing an act of terrorism in Rotherham. Nicholas Roddis, 22, of Reedham Drive, Bramley, will go on trial at Leeds Crown Court. He faces 13 charges, including one of engaging in preparation of an act of terrorism between April 12 last year and July 12 last year. There are also 11 counts of possessing an article for a terrorist purpose, on July 11 2007.

• ‘Young can become addicted to extremism’

  4 August 2008
  Islamic extremism should be regarded as a potential addiction for vulnerable young people in the same way as alcohol, drugs or gambling, according to Scotland’s counter-terrorism co-ordinator. Allan Burnett wants to introduce rehabilitative measures similar to addiction support to prevent youngsters from becoming radicalised by fundamentalists, instead of sending them to prison. Speaking on the eve of the first anniversary of the Glasgow airport attack, Mr Burnett told The Herald that he wants to develop restorative justice and early intervention initiatives for young people as part of the strategy to stop future attacks.

• Abu Qatada released from prison

  2 July 2008
  The radical Abu Qatada has variously been described as a «truly dangerous individual» and a «key UK figure» in al-Qaida-related activity by those in anti-terrorist circles who have studied his work and words. Qatada, who was released from prison last night on strict bail conditions including a 22-hour curfew, became one of the UK’s most wanted men in December 2001, when he went on the run on the eve of government moves to introduce new anti-terror laws allowing suspects to be detained without charge or trial.

• Counter terrorism chief praises Scottish approach

  2 July 2008
  SNP Home Affairs spokesperson, Pete Wishart MP, has welcomed comments by the Director-General of the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism praising Scotland’s community cohesion and ability to prevent young people becoming radicalised and joining terror groups. In an interview, Charles Farr, said: «I think the nature of communities in Scotland is discernibly different from the nature of communities south of the border. You have an ability to reach in and develop a strategy of this kind.»

• More money invested to tackle radicalisation

  1 July 2008
  New guidance to help and support local authorities, schools, community groups and the police in tackling violent extremism and prevent radicalisation in communities was launched on Tuesday by the government. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls rolled out their counter terrorism strategy which hopes to prevent people getting involved with violent extremism.

• Terror law to allow 42-day detention opposed by MPs

  1 July 2008
  The government is unveiling a major new package of a counter-terrorism laws, a plan that gives the right to detain terrorist suspects for upto 42 days without charge. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is understood to have outlined concessions and appealed to MPs not to inflict further damage on the Government after a series of election disasters and policy U-turns. Under long-awaited changes to the Counter-Terrorism Bill, Home Secretary Miss Smith revealed the power to detain suspects without charge would only be used in the face of a «grave, exceptional terrorist threat» to Britain.

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