The Muslim Weekly

This author's articles

• 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.

• UK terror suspect says bomb plans were stunt

  1 July 2008
  A man has denied leading a plot to cause mass murder by blowing planes out of the sky with the excuse that he had meant instead to explode small devices inside the Houses of Parliament as part of a publicity stunt. Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 27, said that suicide videos which the prosecution claims prove a plot to bomb seven planes flying to North America were in fact made as part of a «propaganda» documentary planned for release after the small explosions in Westminster.

• London bombs home-made from pharmacy ingredients

  1 July 2008
  Explosives found by detectives investigating the London bombings were home-made using ingredients that can be found in high street chemists. The highly volatile explosive - acetone peroxide - has been discovered in a house in Leeds thought to have been used as a bomb-making factory. The discovery has raised fears of other British fanatics making their own explosives and following the example of the London suicide bombers.

• Abu Hamza fighting extradition

  4 June 2008
  Radical «cleric» Abu Hamza has launched a High Court battle against extradition to the US to face terror charges. He is wanted for allegedly trying to set up an al-Qa’ida training camp in Oregon. He is also claimed to have helped the gang who kidnapped Western tourists in Yemen in 1998, killing three Britons. But his lawyers are arguing extradition should be blocked because evidence gained by torture was being used against him.

• Counter terrorism threatened by mistreatment of Muslims, says report

  7 April 2008
  In a 23-page report published last week, a UN rapporteur has warned that measures to combat terrorism in Britain could be undermined because of discrimination against Muslims. But the report warns that Muslims in particular face screening, searches, interrogation and arrest. Citing research that showed that 80 per cent of Muslims in Britain feel they have been discriminated against, the report singles out the Terrorism Act 200 for particular criticism.

0 | 10