This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7482930.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lawyer Anwar cleared of contempt 'Angry' Anwar cleared of contempt
(41 minutes later)
Human rights solicitor Aamer Anwar has been found not guilty of contempt of court, after a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh. Judges have cleared lawyer Aamer Anwar of contempt of court - but criticised his "angry and petulant" conduct.
It follows comments made by Mr Anwar at the end of the trial of a man from Clackmannanshire who had been found guilty of terrorism offences. It follows statements made by Mr Anwar after the trial of a man from Clackmannanshire who had been found guilty of terrorism offences.
The trial judge considered the comments to be contempt of court and referred them to three senior colleagues.The trial judge considered the comments to be contempt of court and referred them to three senior colleagues.
The case was not upheld, but the judges criticised Mr Anwar's behaviour. At the High Court in Edinburgh, they cleared Mr Anwar of contempt but said they "expected better" of solicitors.
Lord Osborne said the statements from the lawyer "embody angry and petulant criticism of the outcome of the trial process and a range of political comments concerning the position of Muslims in our society".
However, he said: "No contempt of court has been committed."
But the judge, who heard the case with Lord Kingarth and Lord Wheatley, said Mr Anwar had failed to meet the standards expected from officers of the court.
He said: "They have a duty to ensure that their public utterances, whether critical or not, are based upon an accurate appreciation of the facts of those proceedings, and that their comments are not misleading.
"Regrettably, we do not think that those standards were met in this case and the court is entitled to expect better of those who practice before it."
'Disparaging remarks'
Mr Anwar made his comments outside the High Court in Glasgow in September following the trial of Mohammed Atif Siddique.Mr Anwar made his comments outside the High Court in Glasgow in September following the trial of Mohammed Atif Siddique.
Moments after the jury delivered its verdict, he said it was "a tragedy for justice and for freedom of speech".Moments after the jury delivered its verdict, he said it was "a tragedy for justice and for freedom of speech".
'Disparaging remarks'
He claimed the computing student's case was heard in an "atmosphere of hostility" in the aftermath of the attack on Glasgow Airport, and alleged the prosecution was "driven by the state".He claimed the computing student's case was heard in an "atmosphere of hostility" in the aftermath of the attack on Glasgow Airport, and alleged the prosecution was "driven by the state".
Lord Carloway, who heard the 19-day trial, accused the solicitor of making "disparaging remarks" about him, the jury and the prosecution.Lord Carloway, who heard the 19-day trial, accused the solicitor of making "disparaging remarks" about him, the jury and the prosecution.
He passed the decision on whether contempt of court had been committed to the High Court.He passed the decision on whether contempt of court had been committed to the High Court.
The case was heard by three judges at the High court in Edinburgh in April.
Mr Anwar's defence lawyer Paul McBride QC argued this was an "over-reaction" by the trial judge.
He said an accused person's protestations of innocence, delivered through a solicitor, could not amount to a contempt of court.
Siddique, from Alva, in Clackmannanshire, was found guilty after trial of providing material on bomb-making and weapons training, and threatening to become a suicide bomber.Siddique, from Alva, in Clackmannanshire, was found guilty after trial of providing material on bomb-making and weapons training, and threatening to become a suicide bomber.
He was jailed for eight years in October.He was jailed for eight years in October.