Twelve years imprisonment has been imposed on a terrorist wannabe who borrowed his student loan and carer’s allowance in order to finance his failure to enter a Syrian training camp for jihadi fighters.
Mamun Rashid (Whitechapel), east London funded part of a terrorist plot using his student loan. He did not complete coursework or attend lectures. State benefits were also available for Mamun Rashid’s mother as registered caregiver.
Rashid (28 years old) flew from London via Istanbul to plot his escape to Syria in July 2018. He was heard to have spent six months devising the plan, Woolwich Crown Court heard.
He was within walking distance of the north Syrian border when he was caught by Turkish authorities in February 2019, the court was told.
Rashid, who initially denied this offence when deported to Britain, has pleaded guilty.
On Thursday, His Honour Judge Andrew Lees sentenced Rashid to an additional 12 year and three month imprisonment with five more years of licence.
Mamun Rashid (pictured), 28, from London, has been jailed for 12 years after using his student loan and carer’s allowance to fund his failed attempt to join a Syrian jihadi training camp
Rashid was questioned by the judge. He said that Rashid started talking to a friend in 1993 about an amazing idea that Allah had given.
You described yourself as crazy enough to do it for Allah’s sake.
You described yourself as having the constant thought of death in Allah’s cause.
“You lamented about the suffering of Muslims around the globe while enjoying the luxury of living in London.
“You once said that you felt hypocritical until Allah saved, but now you feel like you are a king.”
Rashid claimed in custody that he had changed his extremist mentality, but the judge could not verify this claim.
Paul Jarvis, the prosecutor, stated that Rashid sought to enter Syria to combat the government which is led by President Bashar Al-Assad since 2000.
He stated that he began to notice a change in his 20s when he was able to see the world from a young age. [Rashid]Bashar was blamed for the suffering of Muslims in Syria and Bashar took an interest in their plight.
Rashid, 28 years old, spent six months planning to invade Syria in order to defeat the government in Istanbul.
Jarvis stated that Rashid had begun talking to others about his plans. He said, “I hope you can be the best martyr,” before saying, “I have to get to the blessed land.”
Rashid’s father briefly expelled him from his home because he suspected him of being terrorist. However, his son eventually gave in and let him return to his home.
In July 2018, he flew from Istanbul to try to get into Syria.
Rashid was eventually able to catch a bus that took him to Hatay Province (in the south-west part of Turkey), where he got caught up and held for 282 consecutive days, before being released.
Jarvis claimed that Jarvis would probably have joined terrorist groups if he had not been apprehensive.
According to his defense team, Rashid did not plan on joining ISIS or other terror groups. They described Rashid’s plan as “staggeringly amateurish”.
Rashid was handed an extended sentence of 12 years and three months in prison, with five years on licence.
He will serve a minimum of two-thirds of his jail term in custody, before being released with conditions for the remainder of the sentence.
He will serve a total sentence of 17 years and 9 months, which includes the extended licence.