Please support Mohammed Atif Siddique in court Tue 30/Wed 1 July, Edinburgh.
Mohammed Atif Siddique's appeal against his conviction for "terrorism" will be heard in Edinburgh High Court on Tuesday 30th June. The Siddique family deserve to see a court packed with friends and supporters. Please come along and show your support.
Mohammed Atif Siddique was convicted last September of "terrorism" offences connected to his use of the internet. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. The appeal is on the basis of misdirection, unbalanced charge, reasonable excuse and excessive sentence. The hearing is expected to take up to eight days.
Atif's "terrorism" conviction for actions that had harmed no one shocked many people in Scotland. Newspaper headlnes said "Guilty.. but is Siddique really a terrorist?"
Mohammed Atif Siddique's lawyer, Aamer Anwar was accused of contempt of court for describing the trial as "unfair." Aamer was cleared of the contempt charge last year in a judgement that made Scottish and European legal history. Atif's appeal is likely to be a key moment in the history of Britain's controversial terrorism laws.
The Siddique family has had a terrible time. Atif was stopped at Glasgow airport in April 2006 as he tried to board a plane to Pakistan. He was prevented from flying and his laptop was seized by police, but he wasn't arrested. Eight days later, armed police broke down the door of the Siddique family home in Alva, Clackmananshire. Atif, who was just 20 years old, was arrested. Atif's brother and two uncles were arrested later in the month and held in police cells for lengthy periods before being released without charge. It's time, finally, for justice to be done.
How You Can show your support
Come along to the High Court, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh from 9.15am Tuesday 30 June and Wednesday 1 July (the case will start at 10am). Support is welcome both inside and outside the court throughout the course of the appeal. But Mohammed Atif Siddique's legal team will be presenting their arguments during the first two days of the appeal so support would be particularly appreciated on Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you can take time from work - especially on Tuesday morning - please do. And please come into the court. If you can only spare half an hour or a quarter of an hour, please come along and join supporters outside the court - preferably before 9.45am.
Please show courtesy and respect to the court and court officials.
