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Britain

Young British Muslim ex-prisoners unrepentant on views

2010-02-08

Two young British Muslims who have served short prison sentences for terrorism offences have spoken frankly about their views to a new BBC documentary investigation into the extent of the radicalisation of Muslims in the UK. The views of Rizwan Ditta and Bilal Mohammed, two young Muslims born and brought up in Halifax, West Yorkshire, will be anathema to the vast majority of the British people including many British Muslims. Ditta claims: "You can go to any [Muslim] youth on the street and say, 'Do you believe in Jihad?' and he'll say 'Yes'. 'Do you believe that al-Qaeda is a terrorist movement?' He'll say, 'No'." Bilal says: "The Western world is not letting anyone live in peace. It's the West who are at war with everyone." The two are close friends. Both received prison sentences for possessing material likely to be useful to terrorists, most of it downloaded from the internet. Ditta was sentenced to four years and Mohammed to two. Both had pleaded guilty. Mohammed has the dubious distinction of being the first to be convicted under the new offence of glorifying terrorism. They were released last year and are now out on licence with strict conditions. Both are unrepentant. Mohammed says that he was welcomed home with flowers and presents. He claims that none of the Muslim community views him as a terrorist. "They gave me support and comfort, saying everything is alright. Don't worry, you didn't do anything." He reminded me of the reception that many IRA prisoners received when they returned home from the Maze prison. There are an unknown number of sympathisers who, whilst not necessarily giving direct support to al-Qaeda and its surrogate groupings, nevertheless have some sympathy with their ideology and share a sense of grievance over Western foreign policy over Israel and the Palestinians, Iraq, and Afghanistan. But Ditta and Mohammed are the angry voices of an extreme element of young British Muslims today. MI5 believes there are about 2,000 extremists in the UK who pose a potential threat

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Britain

Two suspects remanded in custody on terror charges (UK)

2007-01-31

Rizwan Ditta, 29, and Bilal Mohammed, 26, both of Halifax, West Yorkshire, will appear before London's City of Westminster magistrates on February 6 by video link. Ditta, of Royd Terrace, faces 13 offences under the Terrorism Act while Mohammed, of Thrum Hall Close is accused of two. The charges relate to alleged extremist material possibly used to spread radical Islamist ideology. They were arrested in dawn raids in the Pellon area of Halifax on January 23 by unarmed anti-terrorist officers from the Metropolitan Police supported by officers from West Yorkshire. Ditta is accused of possessing several computer files including one called Hamas Bomb and instructions. It is alleged he had files in circumstances which gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that they were for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. He is accused of having files containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. Ditta's alleged offences are said to have been committed before October 26 2006. Mohammed had video clips and a computer file, including one called The Manhattan Raid, showing potential terrorist training methods, the court was told. It is also claimed he possessed an al-Qaida training film.

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