LONDON (AFP) — A Pakistani student urged British Muslims to join jihad, or holy war, in the Middle East and Afghanistan, a court in Britain heard Wednesday as the suspect admitted to terrorism-related charges.
Abdul Rahman, 25, who admitted disseminating terrorist information as part of a plea-bargain, was linked to a "radical cell" committed to fighting jihad with their "Muslim brothers," Manchester Crown Court was told.
"What this group, particularly this defendant were involved in, we say was scouting, recruiting and encouraging others to join their philosophy of extreme jihad or holy war," said a prosecutor.
"In essence they were a group, or cell of young men all espousing the radical jihad philosophy that states non-believers in Islam are legitimate targets. In particular the true followers in Afghanistan are the Taliban."
Rahman came to Britain in 2004 on a four-year student visa but quit his course at Dundee University a day after it started, and moved to Manchester where he got a job in a mobile phone shop and met a group of other Muslim men.
The group included fellow Pakistanis, some of them radical Muslims. Rahman helped one of them, a 22-year-old British man who cannot be named for legal reasons, to breach a control order and flee to Pakistan.
On Wednesday Rahman pleaded guilty to possessing a letter which amounted to a "call to arms" from a friend who was fighting in Afghanistan, as well as to disseminating terrorist propaganda and aiding the breach of a control order.
But he pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of assisting another to commit a terrorist act -- which carries a maximum life jail term.
The plea bargain would see Rahman jailed for a maximum of six years.
The "call to arms" letter was sent to Rahman by a friend and former housemate Aslam Awan, who has since been banned from entering Britain, the court heard.
When arrested in January Rahman had a jiffy bag ready to send back containing two hunting knives and mobile phones.
Computer discs found by police at Rahman's house contained speeches claiming "Allah is calling for jihad." One urged Muslim mothers "rather than raise coward disco boys, raise brave crusaders".
At one stage Rahman was told off by the judge for grinning and laughing as the case against him was outlined.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
