Muslim who pleaded guilty to terror offences tells Old Bailey that UK ‘is a joke’

From the Daily Express

Atiq Ahmed, 32, yesterday admitted two charges brought under the Terrorism Act of disseminating terrorist publications – and described Britain as “a joke”. The offences relate to two “relatively short” videos posted on his Google Plus account between January and March this year.

Ahmed, who is unemployed, had told the court: “I want out of this land… it’s like a joke to me.” Throughout the brief hearing, Ahmed – wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit – muttered and rocked his head back and forth, and could be heard saying: “People kill innocent people and blame us.”

Judge Michael Topolski QC adjourned the case until 21 September for sentencing and said: “The psychiatric element is going to be important for me to consider.”

But Ahmed – who claimed he had sought out material out of “curiosity and study” – ranted as he left court: “It should be an Islamic court. This is an enemy of Islam court”.

The alleged document, entitled ‘Hijra to the Islamic State’, is said to be an ISIS ‘how to guide’ for aspiring Jihadis.

His barrister Andrew Selby said: “This is a man who has had a number of hospital admissions.” He should be quite at home in Broadmoor Hospital.

He will be sentenced on 21 September.