London:
A 30-year-old Pakistani-origin chemistry teacher in the UK was today jailed for six years for trying to travel to Syria to wage jihad alongside Islamic State militants in Syria.
Jamshed Javeed, from Manchester, was “determined to fight jihad” despite pleas from his family not to, Woolwich Crown Court heard.
Javeed admitted terror offences, claimed in court he wanted to go to support ordinary Syrians.
He was arrested in December 2013 hours before he was set to leave the UK.
Javeed, a teacher at Sharples High School in Bolton, had been preparing to leave his home after helping his younger brother Mohammed make the trip to Syria.
His parents initially foiled his plans by hiding his passport but he persisted even after learning his wife was pregnant.
Javeed’s case again highlighted the problem faced by parents in the UK trying to stop their children from being radicalised by terror groups.
Police found 1,490 pounds in cash, thermal gloves and combat-style trousers in a rucksack during a search at his home.
At an earlier hearing, Javeed admitted two counts of engaging in conduct in preparation of terror acts but insisted he was travelling only to support the people of Syria, not to join Islamic State.
But in sentencing him, Judge Michael Topolski said he was “not satisfied” Javeed had rejected “Isis’s ultimate aims” and believed he remained “adherent to a violent jihadist mindset” and considered him “dangerous”.
“I find that you were not planning to return to this country... but rather to die, if you could, as a martyr,” the judge was quoted as saying by the BBC.
He said Javeed played an “important role” in enabling his younger brother and three other men to travel to Syria to fight.
“One of those young men is now dead. The other three are effectively missing.”
Judge Topolski imposed an extended sentence of nine years, comprising a custodial term of six years and an extended licence period of three years.
Judge Topolski praised the “resolve and courage” of Javeed’s family in attempting to scupper his plans.
