Appeal by convicted terrorist dismissed

Rangzieb Ahmed.

A Rochdale man who became the first UK citizen to be convicted for directing terrorism has had his appeal rejected.

Rangzieb Ahmed was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of ten years, having been found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation, namely Al-Qaeda, membership of a terrorist organisation, namely Al-Qaeda and possession of an article for a purpose connected with terrorism, namely diaries containing leading terrorists' phone numbers.

Today, Friday 25 February 2011, the Court of Appeal has dismissed all the grounds of appeal lodged by Rangzieb Ahmed and Habib Ahmed following their convictions.

Habib Ahmed of Elmfield Street, Cheetham Hill was also been jailed for ten years after being found guilty of professing to being a member of Al-Qaeda, membership of Al-Qaeda and possession of a document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, namely an article about explosives used in the Balfour House bombing.

He was also convicted of possession of an article for a purpose connected with terrorism, namely diaries containing leading terrorists' phone numbers.

Today, the Court of Appeal in London dismissed their appeal, lodged in November 2009, on the grounds the trial judge was wrong to say there had not been an abuse of process.

The Court also found that: 

• The trial judge was right to find there had been no abuse of process in relation to anything that happened to Rangzieb Ahmed in Pakistan
• It upheld the judge’s findings that torture has not been demonstrated to have occurred and has been demonstrated not to have occurred before the time Rangzieb says he was visited by British Officers.
• It rejected the argument the judge was wrong to admit the expert evidence of a professor who gave evidence to support the Crown’s case.
• Both men will therefore remain convicted of all offences and will serve the remainder of their sentences. 

Chief Superintendent Tony Porter, head of the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit, said: "Following the appeals lodged by Rangzieb and Habib after their convictions, there was a lot of speculation and criticism of how we handled the investigation, and in particular about an abuse of process and torture.

"Today, I am please the Court of Appeal has dismissed all those claims and upheld the trial judge’s findings.

"The North West Counter Terrorism Unit does not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or inhumane or degrading treatment. For reasons both ethical and legal, their policy is not to carry out any action which they know would result in torture or inhuman or degrading treatment and the Court of Appeal has recognised that.

"The principles we follow are that we always seek to act within the boundaries of the law and do not intentionally take any actions which could undermine any legal process. Today the Court of Appeal has also recognised that.

“We are pleased with this further vindication of our action which was taken to ensure we can fulfil our role in thoroughly investigating terrorism.”