'Leading light' in inciting terror jailed

Notorious Muslim campaigner Abu Izzadeen tonight began a four-and-a-half year jail sentence after he was convicted of fundraising for and inciting terrorism.

Izzadeen, was jailed on his 33rd birthday alongside another British-born Muslim convert, 36-year-old Simon Keeler.

The pair were described by Judge Nicolas Price as the "leading lights" in a group which gathered to make rabble-rousing speeches in a central London mosque.

Of Izzadeen, he said: "I am left in no doubt that your speeches were used by you as self-aggrandisement and not as an expression of sincerely held religious views."

Keeler, he said, was: "Someone with extremist and dangerous views. Not only the words themselves that you used, but the tone in which they were issued showed the depth of your fanatical zeal."

Izzadeen is an outspoken activist who hit the headlines when he heckled former Home Secretary John Reid in 2006. The jury had been told how eight men gathered at Regent's Park mosque in London on the evening of November 9, 2004.

It was a special holy night in the Muslim calendar but also coincided with the start of a fierce battle by American soldiers for the city of Fallujah in Iraq.

The men began giving speeches urging their audience to join the mujahideen in Iraq if they could or send money to help them if they could not fight.

Izzadeen, Keeler and the four other men were found guilty at Kingston Crown Court yesterday of terror related offences.

Abdul Saleem, 32, was jailed for three years, nine months for inciting terrorism and Ibrahim Hassan was handed a sentence of two years, nine months for the same offence.

Abdul Muhid, 25, who was found guilty of fundraising for terrorists, was jailed for two years. He will serve this sentence once he has completed his current jail term for soliciting murder during protests against the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper depicting the prophet Mohammed.

Shah Jalal Hussain, 25, who absconded while the jury was deliberating but handed himself in at court this morning, was sentenced to two years for his part in the fundraising charge, and three months to be served consecutively for breaking his bail conditions.

Ibrahim Hassan, 25, was jailed for 2 years 9 months for inciting terrorism.

Sentencing, Judge Nicolas Price told the defendants: "Long before freedom of expression was enshrined by statute it has been a well established principle of a free and democratic society.

"There must be room in such a democratic society not only for views which are favourably received but also views which shock, offend or disturb the state.

"Despite your apparent aversion to the tenets of democracy you have during this trial enjoyed this right."

But he said the men had "abused" the right and committed criminal acts.

The offence of inciting terrorism abroad carries a maximum penalty of life. The second, less serious, fundraising offence carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.

Abdul Saleem was also singled out by the judge as having played a leading role.

Judge Price said: "I consider you a potent danger to any impressionable, radicalised young man who might fall under your malign influence."

The father-of-five is coming to the end of a sentence imposed last year for stirring up racial hatred at the Danish cartoon protests.

Judge Price said: "It is obvious to me that you are an intelligent, articulate man. It is a tragedy that you have not put your skills to better use."

Bethan David, Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division reviewing lawyer, said: "These defendants called for people to give their support to Osama Bin Laden and money to the Mujahideen. They told people they should be proud of 9/11.

"The challenge in this case was to demonstrate to the jury that sometimes statements overstep not just the boundaries of taste and decency but also the boundaries of the law.

"It is not an offence to have negative views about Britain and its values and culture, but it is an offence to encourage acts of violence.

"This case was not about attacking free speech. It was about upholding the law."

Two men walked free after yesterday's verdicts at Kingston Crown Court.

Rajib Khan, 29, was cleared of the same charge. The jury failed to reach a verdict on the charge of inciting terrorism overseas in his case.

They also failed to reach a verdict in respect of Omar Zaheer, 28, also charged with the same offence.

The jury did not return a verdict on a third offence of encouraging terrorism faced by Izzadeen, who changed his name from Trevor Brooks after converting to Islam.

Izzadeen was born in Britain to Christian parents of Jamaican origin. He converted to Islam at the age of 17 along with one of his brothers and changed his name from Trevor Brooks.

He is married with three children but in 2006 he posted a request on a Muslim marriage website for a "second, third or fourth wife".

Keeler, the court heard, worked as a builder before his arrest and the judge was handed testimonials from customers speaking highly of him.

Judge Price also heard how the 36-year-old father-of-five would do work for elderly customers for little or no payment.