Mohammed Atif Siddique: 'If I was white Christian, I'd never have been jailed'

Published on Wednesday 10 February 2010 21:13

THE man once branded Scotland's first Islamist terrorist last night claimed to have been a victim of racism.

• Mohammed Atif Siddique in the offices of his lawyer, Aamer Anwar. Picture: Robert Perry

Mohammed Atif Siddique, 24, was freed on Tuesday after serving four years of an eight-year terrorism sentence after his main conviction was quashed.

Last night, he told The Scotsman that he would never have been behind bars if he was a white Christian rather than a young Asian Muslim.

The Scot was jailed for downloading terrorism-related materials from the internet after, he claimed, he sought to answer questions about his faith and jihad online.

Yesterday, in his first lengthy interview, he said: "I do regard myself as a victim of racism. Had a white person downloaded this stuff, there would have been no prosecution."

The 24-year-old had already declared that he was a "numpty" rather than a terrorist and said he had accessed the websites, some of which are still available, out of boredom and curiosity rather than malice.

Yesterday, he said he had also trawled for news about his favourite football team, Liverpool and hip-hop music acts.

His release marked another major blow for Britain's much-criticised terrorism laws. His conviction under the controversial Section 57 of the 2000 Terrorism Act – which critics describe as banning "thought crime" rather than actual deeds – was quashed.

Britain's independent watchdog of terrorism legislation yesterday said he would now review the section.

Lord Carlile said: "As a result of this decision, I will be looking at Section 57 with these issues in mind. I will look carefully at the issue because a very senior court in Scotland criticised the law."

Siddique's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, welcomed such a review. "Critics south of the Border have suggested this law is a bit of a sledgehammer," he said.

The Scotsman understands Siddique is now likely to challenge his conviction on three lesser charges, two of them internet terrorism-related.

He is not on any no-fly list or government watchlist but must inform the authorities if he moves house or goes on holiday.

Sources have stressed he would not have been released if it was believed he posed a threat to the public.

Siddique said yesterday that he always expected to be convicted. "I didn't think I was going to get not guilty," he said. "My trial came at a time when there was a lot of hostility – the Glasgow Airport attacks had just happened, my trial finished on the anniversary of 9/11."

He cited examples of extremists convicted of more serious crimes – including a far-right radical found with weapons – who did not make big news. Siddique's conviction made headlines around the world.

Mr Anwar yesterday recalled how his client saw stories about a rightist with explosives consigned to middle of newspapers.

He said: "Atif said to me, 'How come he is not on the front page as a Nazi bombmaker? I did not have any bombs but I made worldwide news as an al-Qaeda terrorist in the sleepy Ochil hills. Why does a far-right bomber not make world news?'."

Siddique disagrees with the war in Afghanistan, but said he had nothing against British troops. He said: "I am a Muslim but I am also a proud Scotsman. First and foremost, I am a Scotsman."

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