Man who preached support for terrorism and ISIS convicted at the Old Bailey

A preacher who gave sermons that offered support and encouragement to terrorists was convicted today (22 September) at the Old Bailey.

During Ramadan in June 2016, Kamran Hussain told his audience at a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent that they should pray for Daesh fighters in Syria to be victorious and for their “oppressors to be annihilated”.

A month later he ended a sermon by praying that everyone should live under Islamic law and that those who ruled in any other way were “sinners, oppressors and infidels”. He urged his congregation to stand firm against those people and “finish them and remove their heads for what they do”.

In a sermon in August 2016, Hussain spoke about the mujahidin – fighters who engage in violent jihad. These people, he said, “…take over a land; they stand a black flag; and establish the law of Allah over the necks of the people, whether they like it or don’t like it”. These words were echoed in an audio clip that was on one of his mobile phones in which the speaker says, “Inshallah…we will see the black flag rise over Big Ben and Downing Street”.

On another occasion, when children as young as 10 were in the audience, Hussain spoke about the kuffar – unbelievers – who he said wanted to attack and kill Muslims. In that context he urged his listeners to “stand up and be ready to sacrifice, be ready to stand in the face of the elements of Shaytan (Satan), be ready to spill blood and have your blood spilt”.

A sermon in September 2016 praised martyrdom as the “supreme success” which was greater than any other, such as at school or college. He said these Muslims would be forgiven in the afterlife and be in paradise.

Hussain’s speeches were recorded by an undercover officer and played back to the jury.

Mari Reid from the CPS said:

“Kamran Hussain was in a position of trust and authority which he abused by encouraging support for Daesh and glorifying violent extremism.

“His audience included children, some as young as 10, who would have heard him say killing others or being killed themselves was more desirable than doing well in school.

“The CPS was able to take the jury through his dangerous sermons and show how they went beyond ordinary speech and amounted to support for terrorism.”

Source: CPS