Ginger extremist 'set up a stall on London’s Oxford Street to drum-up support for ISIS and told Muslim women who challenged him to die'
- Ibrahim Anderson allegedly gave out leaflets while at busy shopping area
- Told Muslims to 'pledge allegiance' and 'migrate and resettle', court heard
- Instructions for travel to Syria also allegedly found on 38-year-old's phone
- Arrested with Shah Jahan Kahn and both men deny charges against them
Ginger-bearded extremist Ibrahim Anderson allegedly set up a stall on London's Oxford Street in a bid to drum up support for ISIS
A ginger-bearded extremist allegedly set up a stall on London's Oxford Street in a bid to drum up support for ISIS.
Ibrahim Anderson invited passers-by to back the terror group and handed out leaflets bearing its logo, a court heard.
The 38-year-old was joined by Shah Jahan Kahn, 63, as they attempted to engage with shoppers on the busy street for around two-and-a-half hours on August 9, 2014, it was said.
The men, who were part of a larger group, also allegedly told two Shia women to 'go die' after the sisters challenged the group about what their actions.
Mark Seymour, prosecuting at the Old Bailey, said the men were 'well aware' of what they were doing.
He added: 'During the course of the afternoon the group in Oxford Street, who were acting together, invited support for ISIS through engaging with members of the public who were passing.
'ISIS is a proscribed organisation and inviting support for a proscribed organisation is prohibited by law.'
Anderson has denied possessing information likely to be useful to a terrorist. He and Khan, who both live in Luton, Bedfordshire, also denied inviting support for a proscribed organisation.
Mr Seymour added that ISIS, also known as ISIL, was made a proscribed organisation on June 19, 2014.
CCTV captured Anderson and Khan among a group of six people arriving to set up the stall, with Anderson carrying the trestle table which formed its centrepiece at 2.39pm, the court heard.
Leaflets they were allegedly handing out referred to seven ‘great responsibilities’ of Muslims. These 'responsibilities' included pledging an oath of allegiance to the Caliph, obeying the Caliph according to Shariah law and migrating and resettle in the caliphate.
It also spoke about educating people about the caliphate and ‘exposing any lies and fabrications made against the Islamic state’.
The leaflet continued: ‘After many attempts and many great sacrifices... the Muslims with the help of Allah have announced the re-establishment of the Khilafah (caliphate) and appointed an Imam as Khaleef (Muslim leader).’
The 38-year-old was joined by Shah Jahan Kahn, 63, as they attempted to engage with shoppers on the busy street with a leaflet for around two-and-a-half hours on August 9, 2014, it was said
Mr Seymour this referred to ISIS and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The court was told the police were also sent pictures of the stall by two sisters, who had been targeted by the men after they challenged them about what they were doing.
Asmaa and Reem Al-Jufaisha were returning from a nearby pro-Gaza march when they saw the stall around 3pm.
[The ginger man] said we should all support ISIS and help them
Mark Seymour, prosecuting
Anderson overheard them criticising ISIS and asked what was wrong with the group, it was claimed.
Mr Seymour said: ‘Asmaa said to him that ISIS were killing innocent people, Christians and Muslims, both Sunni and Shia.
‘The ginger man said that Shia Muslims were Khuffar, [or] aren’t real Muslims. When Asmaa said she was an Iraqi Shia Muslim he told her they were all Khuffar and should go back to Iraq and die.
‘When Reem told the man he was worse than Al Qaeda, the ginger man said: "What’s wrong with Al Qaeda and supporting something for the cause of your religion?" He said we should all support ISIS and help them.’
Anderson also told the sisters they would ‘burn in hell’ and should be killed, it is claimed, while Khan allegedly told Asmaa she was a disgrace to her religion and commented on Reem’s makeup.
Instructions for travel to Syria were later found by police on a notebook computer at Anderson’s home, it was claimed.
Mark Seymour, prosecuting at the Old Bailey (pictured), said the men were 'well aware' of what they were doing
Photographs of Anderson’s young sons posing with a sword in front of a black Islamic flag were also found on his mobile phone, the court heard.
Another picture allegedly showed his toddler daughter wearing a headscarf in front of the same banner bearing the shahada prayer. The banner is similar to Islamist flags used by Al Qaeda or the Taliban, jurors were told.
Other photos on his phone included Anderson standing with his left finger pointing up, a practice adopted by members of ISIS, and a man wearing a hoodie bearing the symbol of the Islamic State and holding a handgun, the court heard.
Another photo apparently showed Anderson posing in a black turban, a Quran and an Islamic State flag. He also had an image of a poster with the writing ‘Keep calm and support ISIS’.
The laptop also contained the official Islamic State video of the beheading of journalist James Foley in 2014.
Anderson, who is married with four children, was arrested at his home on December 16, 2014.
He admitted he was present at the stall but told police he did not support ISIS and did not hand out the leaflet.
Khan was arrested the same day but his phone has never been recovered. He made no comment in interview.
The trial continues.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment