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Britons who join Taliban to face trial
By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent, and Amit Roy
(Filed: 30/10/2001)
BRITISH Muslims contemplating going to Afghanistan to join the
Taliban's jihad against the West were warned yesterday that they
could be put on trial for treason or murder.
Amid reports that a number of British Muslims had already died while
fighting with the Taliban, Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, said
even those who were lucky enough to return alive might find
themselves jailed here.
A hardline Islamic group calling itself al-Muhajiroun claimed at the
weekend that four out of "thousands" of British Muslims who had gone
to Afghanistan to join the Taliban had died in the allied bombing.
British officials said they were aware that a number of British
Muslims had gone to Pakistan with the intention of crossing into
Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban but the figure of "thousands"
was thought to be exaggerated.
Asked by Arab journalists in London about the reports, Mr Hoon said:
"I would hope that anyone who is contemplating going to Afghanistan
does think very carefully about the consequences, both to them and
their families, in terms of the grief they may suffer, as well as the
legal action that might follow on their return, if they were to
return."
The Home Office said there was a wide number of different charges
that anyone who had fought on behalf of the Taliban might be tried
under, which would "theoretically include treason".
Al-Muhajiroun, which is led by a British-based Syrian cleric, Sheikh
Omar Bakri Mohammed, has warned of "a war within Britain" if any
British Muslim is charged with treason for fighting with the Taliban.
However, the Home Office said: "Treason is probably not the most
appropriate charge, although the law on treason would cover someone
who joined enemies acting against this country."
They could also be tried for murder or assault in Britain for any
acts committed abroad, a spokesman said. But the most likely charges
would be under anti-terrorism legislation.
Mr Hoon's warning came as an opinion poll found that many more
British Muslims would rather fight for Osama bin Laden than for
Britain.
Sunrise, an Asian radio station, canvassed the opinions of 500
Muslims in Greater London, mainly of Pakistani origin and aged
between 20 and 45.
An overwhelming majority - 91 per cent - believed the war was between
the Christian West and Islam, while 98 per cent would not fight for
Britain.
In marked contrast, 48 per cent said they would fight for bin Laden
or for Islam. Another big majority - 79 per cent - said they did not
support Britain in its war in Afghanistan. "The results indicate that
Tony Blair's message is not getting through and the Government needs
to work a lot harder," said Avtar Lit, chairman of Sunrise.
Al-Muhajiroun claimed that the four dead Britons - from Luton,
Crawley, Birmingham and Derby - were killed when a bomb hit a house
in Kabul where they were staying with other foreigners who had gone
to help the Taliban.
They had arrived in Afghanistan earlier this month, a spokesman said.
"They were declared missing in action after last Wednesday night's
bombing on Kabul and on Sunday it was confirmed that they have been
martyred."
Al-Muhajiroun released the names of three of the Britons, saying they
were the team leader Aftab Manzoor, 25, Yasir Khan, 26, and Afzal
Munir, 25. It withheld the fourth name at the request of relatives.
Sheikh Omar denied that his organisation had recruited any British
Muslims to fight in Afghanistan.
"Our offices in Lahore are open for British Muslims and these men
passed through there. Many Muslim families are leaving Britain to
return to their homeland. Their first allegiance is to Allah, not to
the Queen."
Al-Muhajiroun is one of a number of Islamic organisations being
monitored by the police for potential breaches of the Terrorism Act
2000.
One British Muslim who took part in secret military training sessions
in Afghanistan said he was a member of al-Muhajiroun and would return
to help the Taliban fight British troops.
Abu Yahya, 26, of Plaistow, east London, said: "If the West goes to
war against any Muslim country I have a divine obligation to join my
brothers and sisters."
29 October 2001: 'Brainwashed' Britons killed in rocket attack
28 October 2001: Prince meets Muslims to win support for campaign
26 October 2001: Blair appeals for Muslims' backing
12 October 2001: Briton's views of Muslims unchanged after US attacks
5 October 2001: Britons fall victim to an Islamic dream
23 September 2001: Briton trained by bin Laden recruits in London
17 September 2001: British extremists urge young Muslims to fight
against US
Information appearing on Electronic Telegraph is the copyright of
Telegraph
Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium
without licence. For the
full copyright statement see Copyright
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