R v Iqbal (2014)

Roger Smart successfully prosecutes ‘Father of Terrorism’.

Roger Smart prosecuted Khuram Iqbal the self-styled "Father of Terrorism" today sentenced by the Honorary Recorder of Greenwich to 3 years and 3 months imprisonment following his 'guilty' pleas to counts of glorifying terrorism and possessing materials of use to terrorists.

He had previously travelled to Kenya having carried out research upon the terrorist group Al-Shabab and then to Somalia before being returned to the UK.  Next he changed his name, obtained a new passport, falsely claiming the original was lost, and sought unsuccessfully to travel to Syria via Turkey.

Iqbal then commenced a concerted and sophisticated campaign to radicalise others by posting material that glorified the actions of radical extremist Jihadists including Osama Bin Laden, Abu Hamza and Abu Qatada. He was also found in possession of literature relating to bomb making.

During the trial Iqbal unsuccessfully argued a number of novel points alleging breaches of his Article 9 and 10 Human Rights.  It was only when his subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal failed that he finally accepted his guilt.