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Friends encourage teenager to follow brother to Syria and join Isis, court hears Friends encouraged teenager to follow brother to Syria and join Isis, court hears
(about 2 hours later)
Three young men helped or encouraged a teenager who followed his older brother from Cardiff to Syria to join Islamic State fighters, the Old Bailey has heard.Three young men helped or encouraged a teenager who followed his older brother from Cardiff to Syria to join Islamic State fighters, the Old Bailey has heard.
The men, from three different UK towns and cities, were involved in arranging Aseel Muthana’s passage from the Welsh capital to Syria, kitting him out or advising about the journey, the court was told.The men, from three different UK towns and cities, were involved in arranging Aseel Muthana’s passage from the Welsh capital to Syria, kitting him out or advising about the journey, the court was told.
Muthana left Cardiff aged 17, following in the footsteps of his brother Nasser Muthana, 21, who achieved notoriety when he appeared in an Isis propaganda video entitled There is No Life without Jihad, the prosecution said.Muthana left Cardiff aged 17, following in the footsteps of his brother Nasser Muthana, 21, who achieved notoriety when he appeared in an Isis propaganda video entitled There is No Life without Jihad, the prosecution said.
Forhad Rahman, 21, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, Adeel Ulhaq, 21, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and Kristen Brekke, 19, of Cardiff, all deny preparing acts of terrorism by helping the teenager on his way to Syria.Forhad Rahman, 21, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, Adeel Ulhaq, 21, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and Kristen Brekke, 19, of Cardiff, all deny preparing acts of terrorism by helping the teenager on his way to Syria.
Rahman allegedly got a passport and paid for Aseel Muthana’s plane and coach tickets, helping him board a flight from Gatwick to Cyprus in February 2014.Rahman allegedly got a passport and paid for Aseel Muthana’s plane and coach tickets, helping him board a flight from Gatwick to Cyprus in February 2014.
The court heard that Rahman and Aseel Muthana exchanged affectionate messages via the WhatsApp messaging system in which they called each other “cutie”, “honey” and “babe”. In the months before going to Syria, Muthana made “declarations of love” to Rahman, jurors were told, The court heard that Rahman and Aseel Muthana exchanged affectionate messages via the WhatsApp messaging system in which they called each other “cutie”, “honey” and “babe”. In the months before going to Syria, Muthana made “declarations of love” to Rahman, jurors were told.
Christopher Hehir QC, prosecuting, said the pair’s WhatsApp exchanges revealed “a profound emotional closeness”. He said there may well have been a “humorous” element to the nicknames but he claimed there was no doubt they became close friends. Christopher Hehir QC, prosecuting, said the pair’s WhatsApp exchanges revealed “a profound emotional closeness”. He said there may well have been a humorous element to the nicknames but he claimed there was no doubt they became close friends.
He said: “The chats with Forhad Rahman make Aseel Muthana’s intentions crystal clear. They reveal a young man quite determined to follow in his elder brother’s footsteps by going to fight in Syria.”He said: “The chats with Forhad Rahman make Aseel Muthana’s intentions crystal clear. They reveal a young man quite determined to follow in his elder brother’s footsteps by going to fight in Syria.”
While remaining lukewarm about going himself, the prosecutor said, Rahman encouraged his friend to go to Syria despite knowing that his parents were put through great pain when his older brother left and were fearful that Aseel would follow suit.While remaining lukewarm about going himself, the prosecutor said, Rahman encouraged his friend to go to Syria despite knowing that his parents were put through great pain when his older brother left and were fearful that Aseel would follow suit.
Rahman put Muthana in touch with Adeel Ulhaq who gave him valuable advice in online chats on how to get to the war-torn country, the prosecutor said.Rahman put Muthana in touch with Adeel Ulhaq who gave him valuable advice in online chats on how to get to the war-torn country, the prosecutor said.
Ulhaq is additionally charged with a separate terrorism funding offence, relating to a money transfer he made to an individual in Turkey.Ulhaq is additionally charged with a separate terrorism funding offence, relating to a money transfer he made to an individual in Turkey.
Muslim convert Kristen Brekke, who lived near Aseel in Cardiff, befriended him when they both worked in an ice-cream shop together, the jury heard.Muslim convert Kristen Brekke, who lived near Aseel in Cardiff, befriended him when they both worked in an ice-cream shop together, the jury heard.
He allegedly bought kit for Muthana, including camouflage clothes and desert boots on eBay, helped him make computer searches for information, and allowed him to store items at his house.He allegedly bought kit for Muthana, including camouflage clothes and desert boots on eBay, helped him make computer searches for information, and allowed him to store items at his house.
The trial continues.The trial continues.