Tayeb
24-09-2005, 14:59
Assalamu-alaikum and greetings:
When I saw yesterday on TV (CNN, BBC and Sky News) news about a Muslim convert (I'd say revert) Andrew Rowe sentenced by british court to a long jail term, I became curious because apparently he'd been convicted on possession of terrorist material. For those interested he received 15 years jail and the judge said that the law should be modified so that a life sentence could be applied in similar cases.
Sounding very strange this case, I checked on how many Muslims have been imprisoned in UK under terrorism act. I found the following site with this information where Andrew Rowe is mentioned:
http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/september03_index.php?l=48
How many have been convicted? It seems a handful few.
Now what was Andrew Rowe convicted of to get such a long sentence? The evidence presented is that Mr Rowe had a pair of socks attached with a cord, instructions on how to use a mortar and a "substitution code".
It sounded very strange to me that a pair of socks attached with cord could brought be to british court of justice Old Bailey as evidence. But Allah knows best.
Anyhow searching a bit more I found the following at http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/JNV_Media_Review_050915.htm that seems quite interesting:
-----------
THE DEFENCE EXPLAINS
The Times, the Guardian and the Telegraph all cover the ongoing 'terrorist sock' trial today (all use the name 'Andrew Rowe' to refer to the defendant, despite the fact that he took the name 'Yusuf Abdullah' on converting to Islam ten years ago).
All the accounts today are incomplete. Let's add the pieces available together:
The terrorist socks
'He denies a charge, under the Terrorism Act, of possessing the socks for terrorist purposes connected to his support for the violent Islamic jihad philosophy of Osama bin Laden and al-Qa'eda.' (Telegraph, page 10 (http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/He%20denies%20a%20charge,%20under%20the%20Terroris m%20Act,%20of%20possessing%20the%20socks%20for%20t errorist%20purposes%20connected%20to%20his%20suppo rt%20for%20the%20violent%20Islamic%20jihad%20philo sophy%20of%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20and%20al-Qa'eda.))
'Asked why the socks had been rolled into a ball with a 1.5 metre pyjama cord attached to them, Mr Rowe, 34, said: "It's a target for martial arts. It's a target for kicking, to get your kicking accurate so you hang it up on the ceiling." '
'An army explosives expert had told the jury that the rolled-up socks and cord were probably used for cleaning a mortar. But Mr Rowe, a father of four from west London, said he used them to practise jiujitsu after his return to London from Bosnia in 1997...'
'Explaining the traces of three high explosives, Mr Rowe said he had carried boxes of battlefield ammunition to an underground store after going to Bosnia in 1995 to help Muslims. "There would be some boxes broken, they looked second-hand ... and I didn't want to get splinters. I tried to find some gloves but I couldn't, so I used my socks," he said.' (Guardian, page 11 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1570190,00.html))
'He said that he had not washed the socks between using them to carry munitions in 1995 and his arrest eight years later.' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_2,00.html))
The codebook
'Mr Rowe said that he had also been prepared to travel to countries bordering Chechnya to do aid work and to act as a courier carrying military equipment and ordnance.' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_1,00.html))
'The codebook, which substituted mobile phone model serial numbers for words such as target, explosives and weapons, had been devised, he said, by contacts who wanted him to act as a courier on the Chechen borders. He added: "I know their names but I am not prepared to say the names." ' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_2,00.html))
'Some of the words, such as "cars", were the items he was to take to Chechnya and the countries were places he might travel from. "'Targets' were the countries where I would be entering or dropping things off," he said, adding: "I was sure that the courier work wouldn't be of a terrorist nature." ' (Guardian, page 11 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1570190,00.html))
The notebook
'On the notebook found in his home containing detailed instructions on how to fire a mortar, Mr Rowe said he copied down the information from notes he made while in Bosnia. "It was memorabilia, basically," he said.' (Guardian, page 11 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1570190,00.html))
'He said that the instructions on using a mortar were a copy of notes that he had been given to read by a military commander in Bosnia. Mr Rowe said that he had never fired a mortar, but kept the notes as "memorabilia" of his time in the "war zone".' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_2,00.html))
'He said he made the notes after his Bosnian trip "to be a bit of a lad. When I spoke to people, I could look as if I had authority".' (Telegraph, page 10 (http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/He%20denies%20a%20charge,%20under%20the%20Terroris m%20Act,%20of%20possessing%20the%20socks%20for%20t errorist%20purposes%20connected%20to%20his%20suppo rt%20for%20the%20violent%20Islamic%20jihad%20philo sophy%20of%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20and%20al-Qa%27eda.))
The bin Laden video
'Rowe denied being "intensely" involved in Islam. He said al-Qa'eda material, including a video of the living will of one of the September 11 hi-jackers, found in a flat where he had allegedly stayed, had belonged to his former wife and he did not watch it.' (Telegraph, page 10 (http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/He%20denies%20a%20charge,%20under%20the%20Terroris m%20Act,%20of%20possessing%20the%20socks%20for%20t errorist%20purposes%20connected%20to%20his%20suppo rt%20for%20the%20violent%20Islamic%20jihad%20philo sophy%20of%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20and%20al-Qa%27eda.))
Fighting in Bosnia
'Andrew Rowe, a former drug dealer who converted to Islam when he was 19, said that he travelled to Bosnia in 1995 as a volunteer aid worker but became convinced of the need to do more. "I wanted to participate and help people defend themselves against an aggressive force," Mr Rowe told a jury.'
'Mark Ellison, for the prosecution, asked: "Were you prepared to fight?" '
'Mr Rowe replied: "Yes. The situation in Bosnia required more than aid, it needed able-bodied people to help defend the Bosnians. It was accepted that I was there to help these people defend themselves and their lands." ' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_1,00.html))
Yusuf Abdullah is, as we've pointed out before, actually being tried for 'behaving suspiciously'. This is a Kafkaesque new offence which is just designed to produce miscarriages of justice. You have to prove that your behaviour was for innocent rather than terrorist purposes. If you are a Muslim convert, you are already in the dock. If you fought in Bosnia (as did many non-Muslim British soldiers, including the SAS), you are half-convicted. If you can be associated with a bin Laden video...
Are trails like these going to make us safer? Or more at risk of anger and alienation? And if there is a conviction?
-----------
Really this case is quite odd. It reminds me the IRA convictions in the past. I hope the britisih justice hasn't over exceeded itself!
Ma'a-salaama,
When I saw yesterday on TV (CNN, BBC and Sky News) news about a Muslim convert (I'd say revert) Andrew Rowe sentenced by british court to a long jail term, I became curious because apparently he'd been convicted on possession of terrorist material. For those interested he received 15 years jail and the judge said that the law should be modified so that a life sentence could be applied in similar cases.
Sounding very strange this case, I checked on how many Muslims have been imprisoned in UK under terrorism act. I found the following site with this information where Andrew Rowe is mentioned:
http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/september03_index.php?l=48
How many have been convicted? It seems a handful few.
Now what was Andrew Rowe convicted of to get such a long sentence? The evidence presented is that Mr Rowe had a pair of socks attached with a cord, instructions on how to use a mortar and a "substitution code".
It sounded very strange to me that a pair of socks attached with cord could brought be to british court of justice Old Bailey as evidence. But Allah knows best.
Anyhow searching a bit more I found the following at http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/JNV_Media_Review_050915.htm that seems quite interesting:
-----------
THE DEFENCE EXPLAINS
The Times, the Guardian and the Telegraph all cover the ongoing 'terrorist sock' trial today (all use the name 'Andrew Rowe' to refer to the defendant, despite the fact that he took the name 'Yusuf Abdullah' on converting to Islam ten years ago).
All the accounts today are incomplete. Let's add the pieces available together:
The terrorist socks
'He denies a charge, under the Terrorism Act, of possessing the socks for terrorist purposes connected to his support for the violent Islamic jihad philosophy of Osama bin Laden and al-Qa'eda.' (Telegraph, page 10 (http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/He%20denies%20a%20charge,%20under%20the%20Terroris m%20Act,%20of%20possessing%20the%20socks%20for%20t errorist%20purposes%20connected%20to%20his%20suppo rt%20for%20the%20violent%20Islamic%20jihad%20philo sophy%20of%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20and%20al-Qa'eda.))
'Asked why the socks had been rolled into a ball with a 1.5 metre pyjama cord attached to them, Mr Rowe, 34, said: "It's a target for martial arts. It's a target for kicking, to get your kicking accurate so you hang it up on the ceiling." '
'An army explosives expert had told the jury that the rolled-up socks and cord were probably used for cleaning a mortar. But Mr Rowe, a father of four from west London, said he used them to practise jiujitsu after his return to London from Bosnia in 1997...'
'Explaining the traces of three high explosives, Mr Rowe said he had carried boxes of battlefield ammunition to an underground store after going to Bosnia in 1995 to help Muslims. "There would be some boxes broken, they looked second-hand ... and I didn't want to get splinters. I tried to find some gloves but I couldn't, so I used my socks," he said.' (Guardian, page 11 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1570190,00.html))
'He said that he had not washed the socks between using them to carry munitions in 1995 and his arrest eight years later.' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_2,00.html))
The codebook
'Mr Rowe said that he had also been prepared to travel to countries bordering Chechnya to do aid work and to act as a courier carrying military equipment and ordnance.' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_1,00.html))
'The codebook, which substituted mobile phone model serial numbers for words such as target, explosives and weapons, had been devised, he said, by contacts who wanted him to act as a courier on the Chechen borders. He added: "I know their names but I am not prepared to say the names." ' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_2,00.html))
'Some of the words, such as "cars", were the items he was to take to Chechnya and the countries were places he might travel from. "'Targets' were the countries where I would be entering or dropping things off," he said, adding: "I was sure that the courier work wouldn't be of a terrorist nature." ' (Guardian, page 11 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1570190,00.html))
The notebook
'On the notebook found in his home containing detailed instructions on how to fire a mortar, Mr Rowe said he copied down the information from notes he made while in Bosnia. "It was memorabilia, basically," he said.' (Guardian, page 11 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1570190,00.html))
'He said that the instructions on using a mortar were a copy of notes that he had been given to read by a military commander in Bosnia. Mr Rowe said that he had never fired a mortar, but kept the notes as "memorabilia" of his time in the "war zone".' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_2,00.html))
'He said he made the notes after his Bosnian trip "to be a bit of a lad. When I spoke to people, I could look as if I had authority".' (Telegraph, page 10 (http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/He%20denies%20a%20charge,%20under%20the%20Terroris m%20Act,%20of%20possessing%20the%20socks%20for%20t errorist%20purposes%20connected%20to%20his%20suppo rt%20for%20the%20violent%20Islamic%20jihad%20philo sophy%20of%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20and%20al-Qa%27eda.))
The bin Laden video
'Rowe denied being "intensely" involved in Islam. He said al-Qa'eda material, including a video of the living will of one of the September 11 hi-jackers, found in a flat where he had allegedly stayed, had belonged to his former wife and he did not watch it.' (Telegraph, page 10 (http://www.j-n-v.org/London_Blasts/MEDIA%20REVIEWS/He%20denies%20a%20charge,%20under%20the%20Terroris m%20Act,%20of%20possessing%20the%20socks%20for%20t errorist%20purposes%20connected%20to%20his%20suppo rt%20for%20the%20violent%20Islamic%20jihad%20philo sophy%20of%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20and%20al-Qa%27eda.))
Fighting in Bosnia
'Andrew Rowe, a former drug dealer who converted to Islam when he was 19, said that he travelled to Bosnia in 1995 as a volunteer aid worker but became convinced of the need to do more. "I wanted to participate and help people defend themselves against an aggressive force," Mr Rowe told a jury.'
'Mark Ellison, for the prosecution, asked: "Were you prepared to fight?" '
'Mr Rowe replied: "Yes. The situation in Bosnia required more than aid, it needed able-bodied people to help defend the Bosnians. It was accepted that I was there to help these people defend themselves and their lands." ' (Times, page 22 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1781059_1,00.html))
Yusuf Abdullah is, as we've pointed out before, actually being tried for 'behaving suspiciously'. This is a Kafkaesque new offence which is just designed to produce miscarriages of justice. You have to prove that your behaviour was for innocent rather than terrorist purposes. If you are a Muslim convert, you are already in the dock. If you fought in Bosnia (as did many non-Muslim British soldiers, including the SAS), you are half-convicted. If you can be associated with a bin Laden video...
Are trails like these going to make us safer? Or more at risk of anger and alienation? And if there is a conviction?
-----------
Really this case is quite odd. It reminds me the IRA convictions in the past. I hope the britisih justice hasn't over exceeded itself!
Ma'a-salaama,