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| Babar Ahmad returns to UK after US jail sentence for supporting terrorist groups | |
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| Babar Ahmad, the British citizen jailed in the US for providing material support to the Taliban at a time when they were harbouring Osama bin Laden, has returned home. | Babar Ahmad, the British citizen jailed in the US for providing material support to the Taliban at a time when they were harbouring Osama bin Laden, has returned home. |
| Ahmad was jailed for 12-and-a-half years in the US for helping support terrorist groups online. He reportedly returned to the UK in secret last week and is said to have celebrated Eid with his family in south London. | Ahmad was jailed for 12-and-a-half years in the US for helping support terrorist groups online. He reportedly returned to the UK in secret last week and is said to have celebrated Eid with his family in south London. |
| A statement released by Ahmad’s family said the last 11 years had been “indescribably difficult”. | A statement released by Ahmad’s family said the last 11 years had been “indescribably difficult”. |
| “We, the family of Babar Ahmad, are delighted to announce that by the grace of God Babar has returned home to us after 11 years in prison,” they said. “Our lives will be enriched by his return.” | “We, the family of Babar Ahmad, are delighted to announce that by the grace of God Babar has returned home to us after 11 years in prison,” they said. “Our lives will be enriched by his return.” |
| They added that they were “heartened” by US judge Janet Hall’s sentencing comments that Ahmad is a “good person” and unlikely to reoffend. | They added that they were “heartened” by US judge Janet Hall’s sentencing comments that Ahmad is a “good person” and unlikely to reoffend. |
| Ahmad, 41, was sentenced in July last year after pleading guilty to providing material support to the Taliban and Chechen mujahideen by using websites to raise money, recruit fighters and provide equipment for the movements. | Ahmad, 41, was sentenced in July last year after pleading guilty to providing material support to the Taliban and Chechen mujahideen by using websites to raise money, recruit fighters and provide equipment for the movements. |
| His sentence took into account the eight years he already spent in detention without trial in the UK, and the additional two years he has been held in solitary confinement in Supermax facilities in the US. Prosecutors had tried to secure a lengthy prison term for the defendant, on the grounds that he might reoffend, though this suggestion was rejected in court. | His sentence took into account the eight years he already spent in detention without trial in the UK, and the additional two years he has been held in solitary confinement in Supermax facilities in the US. Prosecutors had tried to secure a lengthy prison term for the defendant, on the grounds that he might reoffend, though this suggestion was rejected in court. |
| “Eleven years of solitary confinement and isolation in 10 different prisons has been an experience too profound to sum up in a few words here and now,” Ahmad said in a statement. | “Eleven years of solitary confinement and isolation in 10 different prisons has been an experience too profound to sum up in a few words here and now,” Ahmad said in a statement. |
| “In October 2012, I was blindfolded, shackled and forcibly stripped naked when I was extradited to the US. Last week, US and UK government officials treated me with courtesy and respect during my journey home. Today, I have absolutely nothing. Yet I am rich. All praise be to God. | “In October 2012, I was blindfolded, shackled and forcibly stripped naked when I was extradited to the US. Last week, US and UK government officials treated me with courtesy and respect during my journey home. Today, I have absolutely nothing. Yet I am rich. All praise be to God. |
| “In time I look forward to sharing reflections on my experience to help inform others. I recognise that the world has moved on since 2004, yet in some ways sadly it has failed to progress. | “In time I look forward to sharing reflections on my experience to help inform others. I recognise that the world has moved on since 2004, yet in some ways sadly it has failed to progress. |
| “For now, I intend to reconnect privately with my incredible family, to whom I owe so much. It was a great joy to celebrate Eid with them for the first time in 11 years and to hug three of my nieces and nephews whom I had never met before. It has been a long time.” | “For now, I intend to reconnect privately with my incredible family, to whom I owe so much. It was a great joy to celebrate Eid with them for the first time in 11 years and to hug three of my nieces and nephews whom I had never met before. It has been a long time.” |
| Ahmad had fought an eight-year-long campaign against extradition to the US. In an article in the Guardian in October 2012, he argued that “as a British citizen who has lived since birth in Britain, studied, worked full-time and paid taxes, if I am accused of any offence here in Britain I expect at the very least to face trial here in Britain.” | Ahmad had fought an eight-year-long campaign against extradition to the US. In an article in the Guardian in October 2012, he argued that “as a British citizen who has lived since birth in Britain, studied, worked full-time and paid taxes, if I am accused of any offence here in Britain I expect at the very least to face trial here in Britain.” |
| He was awarded £60,000 in March 2009 as compensation for having been physically abused by Metropolitan police officers at the time of his initial arrest in December 2003. | He was awarded £60,000 in March 2009 as compensation for having been physically abused by Metropolitan police officers at the time of his initial arrest in December 2003. |
| A spokesman for the Met refused to comment on reports that the counter-terrorism command at Scotland Yard is considering measures to monitor Ahmad, saying: “With regard to whether we are looking at someone or measures, we would never discuss that,” he said. | A spokesman for the Met refused to comment on reports that the counter-terrorism command at Scotland Yard is considering measures to monitor Ahmad, saying: “With regard to whether we are looking at someone or measures, we would never discuss that,” he said. |
| A Home Office spokesman said: “Babar Ahmad was extradited to the US on 5 October 2012 for trial on terrorism offences. He subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy and providing material to support terrorism and was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years’ imprisonment. | A Home Office spokesman said: “Babar Ahmad was extradited to the US on 5 October 2012 for trial on terrorism offences. He subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy and providing material to support terrorism and was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years’ imprisonment. |
| “Ahmad had used every opportunity, over eight years, to frustrate and delay the extradition proces,s but he finally faced justice and was put behind bars. The sentence he was given by the US courts concluded on 19 June. As a UK citizen, Ahmad is entitled to return to the UK.” | “Ahmad had used every opportunity, over eight years, to frustrate and delay the extradition proces,s but he finally faced justice and was put behind bars. The sentence he was given by the US courts concluded on 19 June. As a UK citizen, Ahmad is entitled to return to the UK.” |