Asylum seeker accused of posting IS video ‘to encourage terrorism’

“The material... is in complete opposition of everything he believes in

An asylum seeker posted an Islamic State propaganda video on social media in response to the terrorist bombing at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, a jury has heard.

Ahmiri Ahmedi Azizi, 24, of South Yorkshire, is said to have shared the footage the day after Emad Al Swealmeen was killed when his device exploded in a taxi at the hospital last November.

The video, which encouraged terrorist attacks against the West, was on his Instagram account, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Later that month Azizi allegedly viewed a video on how to make a silencer for an automatic rifle.

Azizi is accused of seven counts of disseminating terrorist material either via Instagram or the encrypted Telegram app between June and November last year.

His fellow Kurdish codefendant, Mohammed

Hussini, 19, also from Iran, is charged with four counts of the same offence by sending videos via Telegram between August and November last year.

Denise Breen-lawton, prosecuting, said it was the Crown’s case that both were supporters of Islamic State (IS) who intended to encourage terrorism, or were being reckless as to whether they might.

The prosecutor said Azizi’s case is he believes his phone was hacked by or on behalf of the Iranian government, while Hussini will say his transmitted material was to assist fellow Kurds who were applying for asylum by highlighting how they were treated by IS.

Addressing the jury, John Jones QC, defending, said Azizi was a vocal opponent of the Iran government and IS. He said the material on his phone “is in complete opposition of everything that he believes in”.

John Harrison QC, representing Hussini, from south-east London, said his client “believes IS share the same ideals as the Iranian state. He regards both as terroristic organisations who commit atrocities.”

Hussini denies the charges, and Azizi, of Mount Street, Sheffield, also denies viewing or accessing terrorist information and failing to disclose the pin number for his phone.

The trial continues.